Treaty Quotes
Prior to that the accepted phrase was “Law of Nations,” but soon after Bentham first used “International Law” it caught on and became widespread in the English Language. See Columbia Law Review, Vol. 5, No. 2, February 1905
Originally published as The Cynic’s Word Book
His negative predictions were tragically prescient.
At the time, Palestine was technically Turkish territory. Turkey was one of the defeated axis powers in World War I. England, as part of the World War I peace treaties, had control over Palestine as well as most of the rest of the Middle East.
The Germans pretended to maintain the treaty and when the French totally evacuated the Rhineland, Hitler started his preparation for WWII and a little later invaded France. Clemenceau had been snookered.
Earlier, treaties had been negotiated whereby whites purchased certain Indian lands. Tecumseh and others had objected not only to the concept of land sale, but to those who had sold the lands {612650}.
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.
The document was signed in his name by his ministers.
Holland was then a Republic and federation of the separate states. Each elected representatives to the ruling legislature, however, many states had not been pleased that their representatives did not reflect the desires and public opinion in the individual states and in some cases took bribes to vote in favor of special interests. The Dutch did NOT want their representatives to use their own judgment but wanted them to seek and follow the instructions of the legislatures of each state.
England is entering the war against Germany The German war plan called for attacking France through Belgium. However, Belgium was intent on remaining neutral. International law prohibited a neutral country from allowing troops of either side to enter and maneuver in its territory. ({642178}). When Germany moved into Belgium, the Belgians resisted. England had a treaty with Belgium that it would protect Belgian neutrality in the event of any war in Europe. England then sided with Belgium {642175} and committed to send troops to help Belgium oust the Germans. The Kaiser was furious and could not understand that the English would go to war when there was no economic need or advantage for them to do so. Wilhelm II did not have much respect for treaties, promises, or honor other than military honor. He had earlier convinced himself that the English would not fight for a scrap of paper, especially in a land war. {642105}
Lisbon had been conquered and was occupied by the Moors. Alfonso needed the French to oust the Moors. Such arrangements were not uncommon.
1st Earl of Beaconsfield. Contrast this statement with that of Neville Chamberlain returning from Munich in 1941. Disraeli had threatened war and forced the Russians to accept all the British demands by diplomatically isolating them first and moving armed troops into position just before the peace conference.
