The Peace Negotiations: A Personal NarrativeLansing, Robert
History
The Peace Negotiations: A Personal Narrative
Lansing, Robert
League of Nations; Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920); Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
"Perplexing as these questions appear to me, I am more concerned with
the direct effect on this country. I do not believe that it is wise
to limit our independence of action, a sovereign right, to the will
of other powers beyond this hemisphere. In any representative
international body clothed with authority to require of the nations
to employ their armies and navies to coerce one of their number, we
would be in the minority. I do not believe that we should put
ourselves in the position of being compelled to send our armed forces
to Europe or Asia or, in the alternative, of repudiating our treaty
obligation. Neither our sovereignty nor our interests would accord
with such a proposition, and I am convinced that popular opinion as
well as the Senate would reject a treaty framed along such lines.
"It is possible that the difficulty might be obviated by the
establishment of geographical zones, and leaving to the groups of
nations thus formed the enforcement of the peaceful settlement of
disputes. But if that is done why should all the world participate?
We have adopted a much modified form of this idea in the proposed
Pan-American Treaty by the 'guaranty' article. But I would not like
to see its stipulations extended to the European powers so that they,
with our full agreement, would have the right to cross the ocean and
stop quarrels between two American Republics. Such authority would be
a serious menace to the Monroe Doctrine and a greater menace to the
Pan-American Doctrine.
"It appears to me that, if the first idea of the League can be worked
out in a practical way and an international body constituted to
determine when steps should be taken to enforce compliance, the use
of force might be avoided by outlawing the offending nation. No
nation to-day can live unto itself. The industrial and commercial
activities of the world are too closely interwoven for a nation
isolated from the other nations to thrive and prosper. A tremendous
economic pressure could be imposed on the outlawed nation by all
other nations denying it intercourse of every nature, even
communication, in a word make that nation a pariah, and so to remain
until it was willing to perform its obligations.
"I am not at all sure that this means is entirely feasible. I see
many difficulties which would have to be met under certain
conditions. But I do think that it is more practical in operation and
less objectionable from the standpoint of national rights and
interests than the one proposed by the League. It does not appear to
me that the use of physical force is in any way practical or
advisable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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