Final answer:
Marshall believed Stalin aimed to defend and expand the Soviet Union, hence his resistance to the Marshall Plan. Stalin's interventions in Eastern Europe and his investment in the Soviet economy also reflect his efforts to align with Marxist theory and protect Soviet interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
You asked about Marshall's belief regarding Stalin's intentions and why Stalin might have stalled. George C. Marshall thought Joseph Stalin's primary goals were to secure the Soviet Union against potential threats and to spread communism globally. After World War II, Stalin insisted on dominating Eastern Europe to protect against future invasions and to potentially destabilize capitalist countries.
The United States, recognizing the threat of communism's spread, implemented the Marshall Plan as a proactive measure. Stalin saw the plan as a threat to Soviet influence and encouraged Eastern European nations to reject it, fearing it would lead to increased Western influence and jeopardize the USSR's control over those regions.
Moreover, Stalin aimed to modernize the USSR and did invest in industries to build up the Soviet economy—similarly to how the Marshall Plan aimed to rebuild Europe. Nevertheless, Stalin's skepticism towards the development of socialism in China reflects his calculated approach in aligning with Marxist theory.