The Truman Line 

• 1947 
• Sillince, William 
• Drawing 
• Historical item 

6442811

Drawings / paintings

The Truman Line

Charcoal, Ink on paper

36 x 25.5 cm

1947

Original political cartoon in pen and charcoal on card for Punch magazine, 1947, shows President Harry S. Truman busy constructing a fence of dollar signs between ‘Western Europe’ and the stormy skies of Eastern Europe on the other side. In March 1947 President Truman made a speech to the US Congress which became known as the Truman Doctrine: “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted conquest by armed minorities or by outside pressures”, i.e. stop the spread of Communism into Western Europe and elsewhere using military force if necessary. The Truman line is therefore a defensive line built with American financial support. A month after this cartoon was published General George Marshall spoke of the urgent need to assist the economic recovery of Europe, so launching the Marshall Plan which would prove very successful in bringing about the economic recovery of Western Europe after WWII. Published in Punch magazine on 28 May 1947. Card size 36 x 25.5 cm (14 x 10 inch), image size 30 x 24 cm, signed lower right, caption typed on lower border of large card mount to which the cartoon is taped. In excellent condition