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Категория: Английский язык
After World War I most Americans concluded that participating in international affairs had been a mistake. They sought peace through isolation and throughout the 1920s advocated a policy of disarmament and nonintervention.
During the 30s, the United States still held to its isolationist policy. Congress, with the approval of president Franklin Delano Roosevelt enacted a series of neutrality laws that legislated against the factors that supposedly had taken the United States into World War I. As Italy prepared to invade Ethiopia, Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1935, embargoing shipment of arms to either aggressor or victim.
But by the late 30s, American leaders started to move from isolationist ideas. This shift in their opinion was influenced by the two following factors. First, the construction by American designers of a new heavy bomber B-17 suggested that European industry would soon be able to build similar bombers as well. It meant that the US Air Force would soon cease being the most powerful in the world. And second, the US strategic plans were greatly influenced by fascism reinforcing its positions in Europe and Hitler's demanding part of the Czechoslovakia's territory in 1938. Before that, Japan was considered the only power capable of threatening the United States, and all strategic plans presupposed operations only in the Pacific. Now it became evident that Hitler Germany represented another potent threat.
Roosevelt seemed to begin moving away from isolationism when Japan invaded China in 1937. He did not invoke the Neutrality Act, which had just been revised, and in October he warned that war was like a disease and suggested that it might be desirable for peace-loving nations to "quarantine" aggressor nations. With strong public opposition to foreign intervention, Roosevelt concentrated on regional defense, continuing to build up the navy and signing mutual security agreements with other governments in North and South America.
Hitler's intentions revealed at Munich Conference in 1938 confirmed that war in Europe was not far away. France and Britain could be the only counter- balance to Germany; however, Roosevelt did not consider them strong enough yet. The way they acted at the conference and the fact that they sacrificed their ally made it clear that the US plans had to be revised according to the new situation. The new plans were based on the supposition that the Axis (Germany, Italy and Japan that signed the Tripartite Pact in 1940) would join their efforts in invading the US territory. Therefore, the new plans were entitled "Rainbow", in contrast to the previous "one-color" plans. It was supposed that Germany would try to invade the United States through Panama Canal after the seizure of a South American country while Japan would seize the Philippines. The plans were as follows:
♦"Rainbow-1" presupposed the defense of the Western Hemisphere and covering the US territory.
♦"Rainbow-2" added to the aim of "Rainbow-1" coordinated actions of the USA, France and Britain, without any US interference in the war in Europe.
♦"Rainbow-3" had the defense of the US interests in the Pacific by taking over the control over it as its aim.
♦"Rainbow-4" extended the aim of "Rainbow-1" by sending the US troops to South America or the east of the Atlantic to prevent Germany's intrusion into the Western Hemisphere.
♦"Rainbow- 5" went still further and presupposed sending troops to the east of the Atlantic, Europe or/and Africa to attack Germany or/and Italy. Joining efforts with France and Britain is considered essential.
The USA acted according to "Rainbow-2" after Germany invaded Poland but switched to "Rainbow-4" when France fell, Denmark, Norway, and Luxembourg. Belgium and Holland were occupied and British army took evasive action from the Continent. "Rainbow-5" became actual by the time of Pearl Harbour when the USA had to take measures to defend their territory from the Axis invasion.
