For my A.P. U.S history class we were seperated into groups and debate either for or against the Versailles treaty and whether the U.S. should join the League of Nations. i was put on the pro side. and since this forum was made, i figured i'd post my teams argument. Me and another classmate colabortaed on the opening, issue 1, and 2. Another person did 4. and another person is doing issue 3, but the debate is tomorrow and she is pulling an all nighter to finish it, so i don't have it . Versailles Debate Topic and Issues: Should the United States ratify the Versailles Treaty and join the League of Nations? Issue # 1 The Treaty: Would the Versailles Treaty ensure a just and workable peace? Issue #2 Warmaking Power: Would joining the League of Nations amount to surrender of the sovereign power of the United States to decide matters of war and peace? Issue #3 Monroe Doctrine: Would the League permit international interference with American privilege under the Monroe Doctrine? Issue #4 Would the League violate America¡¦s long tradition of no entangling alliances. As governor of the Philippines, old guard Republican and former President Taft saw firsthand the potential America has to shape the world. It is because of this experience that he supports the ratifying of this treaty and it is because of that potential America must join the League of Nations. America has gone from a small region of 13 colonies, to an intercontinental super power, stretching from the Atlantic all the way to the Pacific, from sea to shining sea. As an economic power America must make its voice heard among the world powers. We can no longer be confined to our nation alone if we wish to remain an effectively strong nation. The time for isolationism and sticking our heads in the sand has long past .The time for America to take its rightful place as a leader on the world stage has come to a head. Issue 1: Without the ratifying of this treaty and the establishing of the League of Nations, it is inevitable that another grand and bloody conflict, equaling or even surpassing the first Great War will break out. Tensions on both sides will slowly mount .feelings of contentment and rage will breed like insects. These emotions will fester in the subconscious of the populous, until a time of great global hardship arises, and these feelings will boil over, causing the scared and confused people to look towards radical, new leaders, promising them a return to past glory. And if another grand conflict should break out, mark my words, no amount of effort will allow America to stand idly by and we will be dragged headlong into it. As President Woodrow Wilson said “The heart of the treaty is that it undoes that injustice that Germany did and organizes the world to see that such injustice will in the future be impossible”. Instead of hatred, there will be understanding. Instead of guns, there will be words. Instead of war, there will be peace. Two nations with long histories of aggression towards one another will be able to sit down with one another, and instead of declaring war, can speak civilly and diplomatically. Without America guiding the way for other nations the League will surely fail, and with it, will bring down the greatest chance humanity has ever known for peace alongside it.
Issue#2: A direct quote from Article 10 of the League covenant states ”In case of any such aggression or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression, the Council shall advise upon the means by which the obligation shall be fulfilled.”. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary: Advise- to inform; to give consul to; to recommend. Now, do any of these definitions of the word advise imply any sort of binding legal obligation to what the council of the League decides? It is quite the opposite in fact. The League was constructed in such a way as to ensure the sovereignty of each and every nation involved. As said by Woodrow Wilson, the League covenant “was laid down in straight lines according to American specifications”. Congress, not the league, has the final say when and where America will deploy its troops. Not only can the league not force any member to follow the advice given, but as stated by Wilson “before any advice can be given, a unanimous vote of the Council is required”. Meaning, before America can even consider sending its troops anywhere, the U.S. must vote FOR the action. If America wishes to stay out of a specific foreign affair, it can simply vote down the measure, and the council of the league will take no action in asking for troops of its member nations. Quite simply, the notion that America will somehow lose its sovereignty by joining the league is one drummed up by partisan fear mongers seeking their own selfish political advancement and to keep America isolated from the world during a time of great strife and turmoil during a time when the world needs a beacon a light to follow and guide it through these tough and troubling times
Issue 4: It is a fact that the long tradition of no entangling alliances was greatly stressed by George Washington. Many fear The League of Nations will break this long standing tradition that has been set forth by the father of this nation. Despite these fears, joining the league would not forge an “entangling” alliance, but rather it sets forth a “policy of disentanglement". In traditional alliances, when one nation in it acts, her allies must rush in head first alongside her.AS stated by Wilson about Article X of the league charter, the nations enter into a disentangled alliance so that the nations, as a whole, can decide whether to take action on a foreign issue, or to step away from taking any action. This is the concept of Article X, the idea that the League of Nations is an alliance which ADVISES "upon the means by which the moral obligation shall be fulfilled" Our government is free to reject any source of advice from the council, giving each nation its freedom from entanglement. The League of Nations is not a legal obligation that each country is required to fulfill, but a moral obligation that is stemmed on the conscience of the nation. And if for whatever reason, a nation should wish to step down from the league, it can do so without any say from any other members of the league.
