Thread: Colonialism.... a comparison

Originally Posted by uncle junior

After the US brought them to their knees and set them up with a new govt and rebuilt the country. Your memory's getting sketchy again

Today, Japan is one of the US's closest allies. Why would you make a comment about my memory? Of course the USA rebuilt Japan. The USA gave - Europe (nearly $140 billion in today's dollars). The largest recipient of Marshall Plan money was the United Kingdom (receiving about 26% of the total) in addition the Anglo-American Loan Agreement was a post World War II loan made to the United Kingdom by the United States on 15 July 1946 loaned the UK 57 billion (in today's) dollars. The loan was made primarily to support British colonial overseas expenditure in the immediate post-war years. Additionally, Britain's lend-lease balance was paid off. Lend-lease items retained were sold to Britain at the knockdown price of about 10 cents on the dollar

Churchill had agreed to end all the British colonial stuff at the beginning of the war (Atlantic Charter) but he lied and wanted to retain the colonies. His reticence led to the disgraceful behavior of the Brits in Vietnam by re arming the French Colonial forces who promptly began slaughtering Vietnamese civilians in a return to colonialism.

Atlantic Charter

1. no territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom;
2. territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned;
3. all people had a right to self determination.

Gandhi 1942 wrote to President Roosevelt: "I venture to think that the Allied declaration that the Allies are fighting to make the world safe for the freedom of the individual and for democracy sounds hollow so long as India and for that matter Africa are exploited by Great Britain.