The final plenary session closes on February 11th, 1945, having discussed five main issues: post-war dismemberment of Germany, the post-war role of France, the United Nations, questions concerning Poland, and reparations to the European powers. Despite the Conference surprises, such as the high degree of consensus reached, the extent to which a military alliance produced non-military solutions, and the subdued lack of ideology, each country had mixed feelings of the results. Churchill remains unhappy, as Conference demonstrated clear decline of power since Teheran Conference in December 1943. Stalin hesitated to many stipulations of Conference agreements, but due to British-American cooperation, compromised on many issues. U.S pleased with results, and later reneged on three pacts with Soviet Union it felt compromised its security: the dismemberment provisions, reparations, and the Polish elections. Author concludes that broken promises, bad faith, and misperceptions forced different policies at Yalta, and that post-war environment ensured that the spirit of Yalta didn’t triumph.
