Passage 1 is excerpted from Senator William E. Borah, “Speech to the Senate,” delivered in 1919. Passage 2 is excerpted from an editorial in the Magyar Tribune, “Shall There Be a League of Nations?” Originally published in 1920. In the aftermath of World War I (1914-1918), United States President Woodrow Wilson sought to create an international governing body, called the League of Nations, that would come together to solve disputes between nations openly and peacefully.
Passage 1
Mr. President, after Mr. Lincoln had been elected President,
before he assumed the duties of the office and at the time when
all indications were to the effect that we would soon be in the
midst of civil strife, a friend from the city of Washington wrote
him for instructions. Mr. Lincoln wrote back in a single line,
“Entertain no compromise; have none of it.” That states the
position I occupy at this time and which I have in my humble
way occupied from the first contention in regard to this
proposal of entering the League of Nations.
Have we not been told day by day for the last nine months
that the Senate of the United States, a coordinate part of the
treaty-making power, should accept this league as it was
written because the wise men sitting in Versailles* had so
written it, and has not every possible influence and every
source of power in public opinion been organized and directed
against the Senate to compel it to do that thing?
What is the result of all this? We are in the midst of all the
affairs of Europe. We have joined in alliance with all European
concerns. We have joined in alliance with all the European
nations which have thus far joined the league, and all nations
which may be admitted to the league. We are sitting there
dabbling in their affairs and intermeddling in their concerns. In
other words, Mr. President—and this comes to the question
which is fundamental with me—we have forfeited and
surrendered, once and for all, the great policy of “no entangling
alliances” upon which the strength of this Republic has been
founded for 150 years.
Passage 2
In Europe, there is no controversy about the League of
Nations. Each nation can see the necessity of such an
organization, in fact, they are looking forward to its activities
with high hopes, as an organization being capable of
preventing a recurrence of another bloody war such as we have
just gone through, and one that has upset Europe and the entire
world.
The nations that lost the war, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria,
and Turkey, are the only nations of Europe who cannot be
members at the present time, due to the fact that the other
nations do not want them to have anything to do with the
conferences of the League, and this revolutionary move. This is
considered as a punishment to the above named nations.
In a very short time these nations will also be admitted as
members of the League. Russia is not a member yet, either,
because Russia seems to be preparing for war against the whole
world, though it is only a matter of time before Russia will join
the League, even though its political views will be entirely
different from the rest of the world.
It is here the controversy lies. Maybe, it is because there is
nothing else to discuss, or on which the Republicans and
Democrats can argue, maybe, it is because if America joins the
League it will mean radical changes in America’s foreign and
domestic policies.
The United States has kept away from serious
disagreements that have come up between European countries,
but the World War thrust us into European politics. Due to
industrial and economic conditions, the United States can no
longer remain isolated from Europe.
Europe needs America, and America needs Europe.
Products of the United States are constantly being exchanged
for products manufactured in Europe, thereby cementing the tie
between the two continents.
The entire world has made great advances in the field of
contacting one another, since the invention of the steam
locomotive, steam boat, and telephone. These inventions have
brought the entire world closer together, and new ideas have
developed.
So now the nations throughout the world are beginning to
feel as though they should all unite into one solid organization,
which will insure the world of everlasting peace, without
interference from any one particular nation. This is the idea
that gave birth to the League of Nations.
There are some who doubt whether the League will live up
to these expectations of wiping war from the face of the earth.
Of course, this is all guess work, but the idea seems like a good
one and we believe it is worth trying.
* a city in France where the primary treaty ending World War I was signed
Passage 1
Mr. President, after Mr. Lincoln had been elected President,
before he assumed the duties of the office and at the time when
all indications were to the effect that we would soon be in the
midst of civil strife, a friend from the city of Washington wrote
him for instructions. Mr. Lincoln wrote back in a single line,
“Entertain no compromise; have none of it.” That states the
position I occupy at this time and which I have in my humble
way occupied from the first contention in regard to this
proposal of entering the League of Nations.
Have we not been told day by day for the last nine months
that the Senate of the United States, a coordinate part of the
treaty-making power, should accept this league as it was
written because the wise men sitting in Versailles* had so
written it, and has not every possible influence and every
source of power in public opinion been organized and directed
against the Senate to compel it to do that thing?
What is the result of all this? We are in the midst of all the
affairs of Europe. We have joined in alliance with all European
concerns. We have joined in alliance with all the European
nations which have thus far joined the league, and all nations
which may be admitted to the league. We are sitting there
dabbling in their affairs and intermeddling in their concerns. In
other words, Mr. President—and this comes to the question
which is fundamental with me—we have forfeited and
surrendered, once and for all, the great policy of “no entangling
alliances” upon which the strength of this Republic has been
founded for 150 years.
Passage 2
In Europe, there is no controversy about the League of
Nations. Each nation can see the necessity of such an
organization, in fact, they are looking forward to its activities
with high hopes, as an organization being capable of
preventing a recurrence of another bloody war such as we have
just gone through, and one that has upset Europe and the entire
world.
The nations that lost the war, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria,
and Turkey, are the only nations of Europe who cannot be
members at the present time, due to the fact that the other
nations do not want them to have anything to do with the
conferences of the League, and this revolutionary move. This is
considered as a punishment to the above named nations.
In a very short time these nations will also be admitted as
members of the League. Russia is not a member yet, either,
because Russia seems to be preparing for war against the whole
world, though it is only a matter of time before Russia will join
the League, even though its political views will be entirely
different from the rest of the world.
It is here the controversy lies. Maybe, it is because there is
nothing else to discuss, or on which the Republicans and
Democrats can argue, maybe, it is because if America joins the
League it will mean radical changes in America’s foreign and
domestic policies.
The United States has kept away from serious
disagreements that have come up between European countries,
but the World War thrust us into European politics. Due to
industrial and economic conditions, the United States can no
longer remain isolated from Europe.
Europe needs America, and America needs Europe.
Products of the United States are constantly being exchanged
for products manufactured in Europe, thereby cementing the tie
between the two continents.
The entire world has made great advances in the field of
contacting one another, since the invention of the steam
locomotive, steam boat, and telephone. These inventions have
brought the entire world closer together, and new ideas have
developed.
So now the nations throughout the world are beginning to
feel as though they should all unite into one solid organization,
which will insure the world of everlasting peace, without
interference from any one particular nation. This is the idea
that gave birth to the League of Nations.
There are some who doubt whether the League will live up
to these expectations of wiping war from the face of the earth.
Of course, this is all guess work, but the idea seems like a good
one and we believe it is worth trying.
* a city in France where the primary treaty ending World War I was signed