-
The US Senate and the League
Woodrow Wilson was one of the founding members of the League, and wanted the US as a driving force within it. However, despite his enthusiasm, many Americans disagreed. Article II of the US Constitution required that 2/3s of the Senate must vote in favour of any motion for it to be carried. The vote on the US joining League was more or less divided into 3 groups. The Reservationists, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, the Irreconcilables, led by William Borah, and President Wilson. (Continued) -
Senate Opposition to the League
William Borah, who led the "Irreconcilables" thought that the US's problem was her involvement in Europe's affair. He considered their methods of peace-making primitive, and thought the US's was more promising.
He fought against Wilson's League, and won both votes, in November 1919 and January 1920. Henry Cabot Lodge was willing to join the League, provided that Reservations be made. The Senate voted on both the original and updated League, and Wilson failed to gain support on both occasions. -
The Washington Naval Conference
This conference was called for by Britain and the US to protect their navies and to limit naval rearmament. They were concerned by Japan's rising expansion in Asian territories, and the US wanted the Pacific to be protected from potential Japanese threats. Other naval powerhouses were present, such as Portugal (= The 5;5;3 Ratio" was established, which meant that Japan's Navy would be 3 fifths of the size of her British and American counterparts. -
The Dawes Plan
The Dawes Plan was put forward by Charles Dawes and his company. The proposal was to loan $800M to Germany, who needed funds desperately to slow the hyperinflation brought by the Occupation of the Ruhr. The problem was that Germany used the funds to pay reparations to France and Britain, who in turn, used it to pay of their war debt to the US, and so the cycle was created. The loans depreciated in value as they were passed around, and it contributed to the Wall Street Crash in 1929. -
The Kellogg-Briand Pact
This pact was considered as a continuation of the "Spirit Of Locarno", a hope that Europe was finally recovering from the War. However, it was almost useless. The aim of the Pact was to renounce war as a means of resolving problems, and to resort solely to diplomatic means. Signed by the American Frank B. Kellogg, the Pact was a sign of the US's move toward being more Internationalist. The other signee was French politician Aristide Briand, who had been an important figure in France for years. -
The Young Plan
By 1928, it was felt that an update for the Dawes Plan was necessary. Owen G. Young, an American banker who worked with Dawes, proposed the Plan, which sought lower German reparations. At this stage, Germany had joined the League. The plan faced British opposition, but was only put into effect in 1930 due to the Great Depression. It didn't prove to be very useful, but it marked US involvement in Europe. The fee was to be brought from 6 Billion Pounds to 2 Billion, as suggested by John M. Keynes. -
Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act
Blippidy Bloppidy Boop