League Nations Quotes

The majority of the country strongly favored American participation in the League of Nation provided there were some reservations that made it explicitly clear, the American troops could not be committed without the approval of Congress and that nothing would impinge on U. S. domestic sovereignty. Wilson wanted no exceptions or reservations to the treaty he had negotiated and would not compromise in any way. The issues were soon forgotten in what had become a test of will and power between the Senate and the President. The treaty was never ratified and without the United States, the League of Nations collapsed.

In 1936, Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia in an effort to obtain an African colony like other European Countries had. Over 50 nations had promised aid to Ethiopia if attacked but then the Italian attacks came, it was not just soldiers with some small artillery and vehicles. Instead it was a full modern army with not only heavy artillery and tanks, but extensive use of air power against villages and towns which generally hardly had rifles. The airplane carnage of civilian populations was a shock to the world. However, the tactics were studied by the Italian German Fascist allies who further developed air power use against unarmed towns and cities in the Spanish Civil war. The aid promised to Christian Ethiopia never materialized because there was a worldwide depression and the great powers would have had to commit to major war—not just send some arms and ammunition. The Ethiopians mostly fought with spears and knives. The Fascists were thus emboldened for the invasion of Europe a few years later.

Announcing his opposition to the covenant of a League of Nations:

The United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty that President Woodrow Wilson had negotiated establishing the League of Nations.

America, England, Germany and France Many Japanese leaders predicted war between the Great Powers while America and its European Allies did not see the danger as clearly. Shortly after 1936, Hitler began the Second World War. Japan was indeed prepared. Hiranuma became one of the Japanese extremists and after WWII was convicted of war crimes and given a life sentence.

Islamic modernists like him are many among the educated Muslims but their views are often drowned out by the violence and extremist statements of the fundamentalists.

His dream was for a conference of South and Central American leaders who would meet with other world leaders to maintain peace and eliminate war. This was one of the early visions of a League of Nations or a United Nations.

The President had negotiated the League of Nations as a part of the treaty negotiations ending World War I. However, he could not sell the idea to the Republican controlled Senate and the treaty was never ratified. This was the death of the League of Nations, a predecessor organization to the United Nations. America had gone into a period of extreme isolationism which in many way enabled WWII to get started. After WWII, the nation did not make the same mistake and the establishment of the United Nations was ratified handily. President Truman, however, was a much better salesman than President Wilson had been, and perhaps more important, the Republicans and Congress had never been involved in the League of Nations negotiations, whereas Truman had involved them heavily in a bipartisan effort.

Wilson was referring to the Armenian genocide that was being carried out by Turkey. Under the League of Nations treaty then executed, the League would take over Armenia and end the massacres.

The Christian Armenians, a minority in Turkey and its lands, were discriminated against like other non Muslim minorities in the Ottoman Empire. But during the Turkish War with Russia and WWI, some Armenians defected and served on the Russian side. Many Turkish citizens took revenge on Armenians by means of murder and torture. Soon, the extermination of the Armenians became the official “Young Turk” government policy. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed outright, and about an equal number were “deported” to special areas. Many died of malnutrition along the forced march of Ethnic Cleansing. Others were murdered as they were deported. No one knows exactly how many Armenians were killed with estimates ranging from ½ million to 4 million. This was the first genocide of the 20th century. Modern Turkish leaders however, are in denial about the Armenian deaths. They claim that there was a war and food was scarce; the only Armenians killed, the claimed were proven Russian agents. They further claim that the Armenian behavior was in large part responsible for the forced deportations because of their lack of patriotism and unwillingness to help the Turkish authorities identify the Russian agents. Most Turks today are unaware of the Armenian Genocide as nothing is taught about the massacres in schools or other institutions. It is against the law in Turkey to even have an intellectual study of the Turkish behavior towards the Armenians, much less publish anything about it.

This was one of the first proposals for a type of world government. Ironically, Angell, and English politician, was suggesting that the United States take the lead in his ‘new world order” and be the principle controlling factor. This was before the League of Nations and the United Nations.

Defending his opposition to a League of Nations. He was instrumental in preventing the United States from joining the League of Nations which President Wilson had worked so hard to create. The Senate never ratified the treaty which Wilson had signed.

Announcing his opposition to the covenant of a League of Nations:

Japan, then a militaristic power in the East had occupied and controlled Manchuria after the Russo-Japanese War. The League of Nations voted that Manchuria should be placed under international control until elections and independence can be arranged. The Japanese then had a rapidly growing population and Japan felt that the Japanese Islands were not sufficient to produce the raw materials, oil and agriculture needed to sustain a larger Japanese population. Therefore, the Japanese argued that they were entitled to grow and expand to nearby territories to provide for their nation’s needs. When the league of nations rejected the Japanese position, Japan walked out of the League of Nations. Japan would occupy part of China and Korea all leading to WWII. See {627075} for the foreign minister’s later assessment.