ABSTRACT
The Marshall Plan placed the Soviet Union in a predicament. On theone hand it wanted to prevent American political and economicdominance in Europe, but on the other it and its east and south-east European neighbours badly needed US capital and goods. If the Soviets rejected credits there was a risk that western and southern Europe would bloom and in so doing become rich and attractive not only to the rest of Europe but also to many other parts of the globe.
