Harry Hamlin Memoirs

Author: W. Averell Harriman, Eli Abel, translated by Wu Shimin and others
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The original title of this book is "Special Envoy: Dispatches from Churchill and Stalin," which records the personal experiences of the renowned American diplomat W. Averell Harriman during World War II (1941-1946) when he served as envoy to Great Britain and the Soviet Union. In this book, he attempts to elucidate his views on Soviet policy through his own 50 years of diplomatic experience, pointing out flaws and proposing solutions, hoping that policymakers will adopt his ideas. He advocates using "American ideals," or the American way of life, to infiltrate the Soviet Union, and leveraging "economic and technological ties" to pressure the Soviet Union into compliance, thereby achieving the goal of "Washington as the center of power." Although the book is a reflection of Harriman's personal experiences and the historical events it describes are well-documented in specialized works and memoirs from the time, it still contains valuable first-hand materials. The international environment of that time is intricately linked to the world of today. Harriman's aforementioned proposals, tested by the history of the 20th century, still hold the historical value of "first-hand accounts, observations, and experiences," with vivid memories of past events, making them a valuable lesson for future generations.