American Foreign Policy: 1920-1932 The Fiction of Isolationism

Use the power point to answer the following questions. After reading the slide entitled Foreign Policy Tensions, define the term isolationism. Who were the leading isolationist Senators? What was their main objection to the Treaty of Versailles? What were the goals of the Washington Naval Conference? How did the Four-Power Treaty affect East-West relations in Asia and the Pacific? What did the Nine-Power Treaty establish? Why? What was the major effect of the Five-Power Treaty? Define the term naval holiday. How did European war debt affect the American economy? What was the purpose of the Dawes/Young Plan? How did the Clark Memorandum change U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America? What the purpose of the Kellogg-Briand pact? The problems? Why do you think the subtitle of this presentation is the Fiction of Isolationism?

Foreign Policy Tensions The Red Scare of 1919—"100% Americanism”—follows World War I. Americans want to let Europe to “stew in its own juice”. Americans show an incredible indifference to the fate of Europe during the 1920s. The U.S. follows foreign policy that is narrow, cautious, and self-centered and refuses to be bound by any agreement to preserve international peace. (No “entangling alliances”) The U.S. military is reduced to 118,00 by 1927. Anti-Japanese immigration policy; tight immigration laws a paradox considering number of immigrants already in U.S. Washington wants World War I debts paid, quarrels with almost everybody over various issues. America had loaned Allies during and after the war a total of $11 billion. Great Britain proposes canceling reparations debts if U.S. will cancel Great Britain's $4 billion debt. U.S. refuses. July, 1921  Congress passed a resolution declaring WW I officially over! The nation remains primarily isolationist throughout the 1930s.

American Isolationism Isolationists like Senators Lodge and Brandegee refused to allow the US to sign the Versailles Treaty Main objection – Article X US would have to defend a league member if attacked Fearful of being drawn into another war in Europe U.S. never joined the League of Nations, hampering the League's credibility as a mediator of world conflict. Security treaty with France also rejected by the Senate Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA] Sen. Frank Brandegee [R-CT

Washington Naval Conference-1921 Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain and Japan to oppose Russian expansion in China; come to each other’s aid in time of war. Would the British aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with the United States? Treaty was terminated in 1923. Goals of the U.S.  promote peace, naval disarmament and ease the political situation in the East Asia.

Four-Power Treaty (1921) Nine Power Treaty (1922) US, France, Great Britain, and Japan agree to respect each other’s territory in China (status quo) respecting the Pacific holdings of the other countries signing the agreement not seeking further territorial expansion, and mutual consultation with each other in the event of a dispute over territorial possessions However, the main result of the Four-Power Treaty was the termination of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902. Affirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, signed by all attendees of the Conference Establishes Open Door Policy as international law Nine Power Treaty (1922)

Five-Power Treaty (1922) A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio: US Britain Japan France Italy 5 5 3 1.67 1.67 Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would stop fortifying their Far East territories [including the Philippines]. A moratorium was placed on the building of naval ships – a ten year “holiday” Loophole  no restrictions on small warships, cruisers

European Debts to the US

Hyper-Inflation in Germany: 1923

Dawes Plan (1924)

Young Plan (1930) Break the Dawes Chain $26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years. By 1931, Hoover declared a debt moratorium. Cycles helped ease financial problems on both sides of the Atlantic Break the Dawes Chain For three generations you’ll have to slave away!

Locarno Pact (1925) Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only.

Geneva Conference (1927) Extend the existing limits on naval construction begun at the Washing Naval Conference Limit the construction of cruisers, destroyers or submarines. No agreement was reached

Secretary of State J. Reuben Clark Clark Memorandum (1928) Clark pledged that the US would not intervene in Latin American affairs in order to protect US property rights. The US decides about when to intervene on behalf of Latin American nations This separated the Roosevelt Corollary from the Monroe Doctrine Secretary of State J. Reuben Clark

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) Women take the lead in the peace movement to prevent future wars (Jane Addams wins the Nobel Peace Prize) 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and war as tools of foreign policy. 62 nations signed. Problems  no means of actual enforcement and gave Americans a false sense of security. permits defensive wars