Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles

Liberal v. Conservative Liberal – Interventionists /Internationalists Conservative – Isolationist Terms: Liberal and Conservative meanings differ when applied to foreign vs. domestic affairs. Progressives were liberal on domestic issues but many of the “irreconcilables” were progressive although they were “isolationist” (conservative) when it came to the Treaty of Versailles.) Reservationists - Internationalists

The 96 senators who were eligible to vote on the treaty belonged to one of three groups: 1.Wilson Supporters and liberal Internationalists 2.Reservationists led by Henry Cabot Lodge 3.Irreconcilables who were mostly isolationists

I. WILSON'S FOURTEEN POINTS JANUARY 8, 1918 a speech to Congress which was his proposal for peace after World War I

Human rights principles Preventive medicine in dealing with the causes of warfare European territorial division of spoils Wilsonian idealism with the proposed League of Nations Fourteen Points a mixture of :

1. No secret treaties (A) Secret diplomacy abolished Nations would practice diplomacy openly and make no secret treaties All treaties open covenants arrived at openly

2. Freedom of the seas (M)(I) Ships allowed to move freely during peace and war

3. No economic barriers between nations (I) Removal of tariff (taxes on imports) barriers to allow free trade

4. Arms cuts (M) Nations would reduce their armaments

5. A voice for colonized peoples (N) Self determination for former colonies Competing claims over colonies settled impartially in the best interests of the colonial peoples National borders adjusted to allow for self rule Protection of ethnic and national groups under foreign rule prevent genocide attempted by Ottoman Turks against Armenians

6. Germany out of Russian (I) 7. Germany out of France and Belgium (I) 8. Alsace - Lorraine to France (I) 9. Expansion of Italy (I)

10. Autonomy for Czechs, Magyars, Bulgars (N) 11. Poland's independence (N) 12. Autonomy for Greeks, Armenians, etc (N) 13. Free passage thru the Dardanelles (I)

14. A league of nations "A general association of nations should be formed on the basis of covenants designed to create mutual guarantees of the political independence and territorial integrity of States, large and small equally."

Wilson was also against war reparations

II. TREATY OF VERSAILLES JUNE

A. The four leaders who dominated the conference: President Wilson (US) Prime Minister David Lloyd George (Britain) Premier Georges Clemencaeau (France) Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

B. Germany is required to: 1. Admit guilt 2. Pay war reparations  Allies take temporary control of the German economy 3.Return the rich Alsace - Lorraine region to France 4. Surrender her overseas colonies 5. Disarm  German rearmament is strictly limited

C. Redrew Map of Europe Divided the Austria-Hungary empire into four nations Sudetenland Created mandates in the former Ottoman Empire and Germany’s former colonies

D. Established the League of Nations Executive Council (like the Security Council) Decisions would require unanimous approval for action Agreed to not make war without arbitration Unilateral action amounted to war against the entire league

Article X The Members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all Members of the League. In case of any such aggression or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression the Council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.

Wilson’s Reasons for Ratification “Collective Security” League of Nations would simply make the world a safer place by reducing the chances for war stopping needless arms building Enable US to assume its rightful role in the forefront of world affairs where we could use our best intentions and leadership to promote world peace “We are participants in the world, whether we wish to be or not… What affects mankind is inevitably our affair as well…”

Wilson’s Troubles on the Home Front

A.Republican Victory in the Election of Republicans won control of both houses of Congress a. Negated his claim to speaking for the whole American people b. Although continued to be the spokesman for the Allies

Costly Mistakes Before the Peace Conference December 1918 : Wilson Decided he would attend the peace conference in person Hoped to be the presiding officer at the conference

Costly mistakes…. 1.Selection of a Democratic Delegation 1. Treaty would have to be ratified by a Republican- controlled Senate 2.Failure to Consult Senators 1. Attitude toward the senate extremely arrogant cost him support of Democrats as well as Republican Senators 3.Failure to Understand European Economic Problems 1. Primarily concerned with political aspects of the formation of a league of nations

The Fight for Ratification in the U.S. July 1919 submitted to the Senate

A.Reasons for Hostility to the treaty 1. Small group, led by Senator Robert M. La Follette, opposed ratification on idealistic grounds, seeing in the treaty a betrayal of Wilsonian idealism 2. Personal feelings of Wilson’s enemies in both parties ; his aloofness

3.Opposition by certain national groups Irish Americans opposed as Ireland remained under British Rule German Americans opposed because of harsh conditions on Germany 4.Traditional American attitude of avoiding involvement in the affairs of Europe 1. Now that Germany defeated, semblance of balance of power restored, feeling of security ; desire for isolationism 5. Partisan politics 1. Republican leaders opposed in part due to Wilson’s actions towards Republicans in Congress

B. Four Groups of Opinion in the Senate 1.23 Senators a. Supported Wilson and wanted the treaty ratified without changes or reservations 2.Approved of the treaty but would accept moderate changes a. Mostly Democrats 3.Group led by Henry Cabot Lodge a. Insisted on drastic changes and reservations b. Mostly Republicans 4.Irreconcilably opposed smallest group a. La Follette, Hiram Johnson and William Borah

C. Defeat of the Treaty 1.The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee recommended ratifications with 42 amendments 2.Wilson went on tour for public support of the un-amended treat a. Suffered a physical collapse (stroke) b. Mrs. Wilson served as his unofficial secretary 3.Compromise might have secured passage a. Vote : 49 for / 35 against (less that 2/3 needed) i. 12 of 35 against were the “irreconcilables” ii. 23 of the 35 against were Wilson’s friends who he told not to vote for a compromise a.Wilson partly responsible for defeat b.If Wilson not so stubborn about compromise the treaty would have been accepted without basic alterations