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<TITLE>George F. Kennan and the Origins of Containment, 1944-1946</TITLE>
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<h2>George F. Kennan and the Origins of Containment, 1944-1946</h2>
<h3>The Kennan-Lukacs Correspondence </h3>
<h4>George F. Kennan and John Lukacs</h4>
<h5>Introduction by John Lukacs</h5>
In 1945 the United States saw the Soviet Union as its principal ally.
By 1947, it saw the Soviet Union as its principal opponent. How did
this happen? Historian John Lukacs has provided an answer to this
question through an exchange of letters with George F. Kennan. Their
correspondence deals with the antecedents of containment between 1944
and 1946, during most of which time Kennan was at the American embassy
in Moscow.<p>
Kennan had strong opinions about America's appropriate role during and
after World War II and is perhaps best known as the architect of
America's containment policy. Much has been written about Kennan and
containment, but relatively little is known about the events that
made him compose and send the Long Telegram in 1946 that ultimately
became the draft for foreign policy dealing with the Soviets in the
following forty years.<p>
These letters show Kennan's fear of the extent to which the United
States misunderstood the Soviet regime. Especially in 1944, at the
time of the Russians' betrayal of the Warsaw Uprising, it became
evident that the Soviets were interested in establishing their rigid
domination of Eastern and Central Europe and dividing the
continent.<p>
Kennan's letters to Lukacs are thorough and detailed, suggesting that
the Truman administration was not in the least premature in opposing
the Soviet Union. Indeed, both correspondents suggest that these
decisions should have been made earlier. This series of letters will
add greatly to our understanding of what preceded containment and
the Cold War in 1947.
<h4>About the Authors
</h4>
George F. Kennan is one of the greatest diplomats in the history of
the United States. A historian and author of many works, he is much
admired for the exceptionally high standards his scholarship
pursues.<p>
John Lukacs is a historian of international reputation and the author
of many books, including his most recent,
<a href="/upress/otherbooks/lukacs.htm">Destinations Past:
Traveling through History.</a><p>
1997. 96 pages. 5 x 7 1/2. Biblio. Index.
For sale in the United States, its possessions, and Canada only.
ISBN 0-8262-1108-9. $19.95s cloth. ISBN 0-8262-1109-7. $9.95t paper.
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