Six years after the end of World War 2 how was America faring along the lines of opinion and general impression?
For the most part, good. In France, America was looked at as an important ally politically and economically. Certainly the Marshall Plan contributed much to the overall positive opinion. But France, like most countries in Europe, if not the world, didn’t really have an accurate idea of what America, and most importantly, Americans were all about. In this panel discussion for the radio program Northwestern University Reviewing Stand, the general opinion of Americans was based on what was seen in Popular Culture; movies, magazines and books – it was more based on a cultural perception that was, for the most part inaccurate. Furthermore, much of how nations in Europe based its opinion on America was also a misconception that all Americans were wealthy.
The same view held true in Britain where, again misconceptions that Americans were identical in character to those portrayed in films which had flooded English cinemas – so the average Briton conjured images of Americans as cowboys, millionaires, large automobiles and gangsters as typical day-to-day life. That said, the presence of American troops in Britain, coupled with the immense help the Marshall Plan had given Britain, and the rest of Europe, left for the most part a very positive opinion of America in general. The criticism of America was largely on the parts of the Labour Party headed by Aneurin Bevan who claimed that America was becoming Imperialistic based on the influx of military aid. It was agreed that one of the sticking points was the issue where it was felt America was pushing too fast and too hard because of the Cold War and Americas perception that The Soviet Union were actively winning favor in Europe and that the Communist Party was a force to be reckoned with.
A number of areas were covered in this discussion between Francois Briet, counsel General of France, Dennis A.H. Wright acting British Counsel General and Irving Pflaum of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Here is that broadcast of The Northwestern Reviewing Stand from Mutual as heard on August 22, 1951.
