Page 47 - DIVA_No.18_2005

WOODROW

WILSON

In Geneva, on one side of the lake no vanquished, In January 1917 he Red Cross. To clinch a deal, the This decision was ultimately cala-
you have the Quai Gustave Ador stated for the first time that world President of the Swiss mitous for the League since the
and on the other side the Quai peace should be guaranteed by an Confederation, Gustave Ador, whole purpose was to impose glo-
Wilson. Most people know that institution called the League of went to Paris and met Wilson of bal economic sanctions on any
the Quai Wilson is named after Nations. In a move that must be the United States, Clémenceau of government that chose to settle its
Woodrow Wilson, the twenty- considered hugely unwise, only a France and Lloyd George of the disputes by armed attack rather
eighth President of the United few days later the Germans deci- United Kingdom. The outcome than negotiation. If the world's
States of America. But did you ded to launch unrestricted submari- was a telegram from Gustave number one economic power
know that there is link between the ne warfare. They even encouraged Ador to the Geneva State Council would not participate in sanctions,
naming of these two roads. So Mexico to invade Texas! Opinion on 28 April 1919 reading: confidence in the League of
who was Gustave Ador? More in the United States swung violent- "Pleased to inform you that the Nations was undermined. The
about him later. ly against the Germans and, in Conference has chosen Geneva as result was that the League led a not
April 1917, Wilson asked headquarters of the League of very successful existence until
After a distinguished academic Congress to declare war. Nations. Signed: Ador". 1939 and ceased to function alto-
career at Princeton University and gether in 1946.
as governor of New Jersey, Massive American involvement A grateful Geneva renamed the
Woodrow Wilson was elected US on the side of the United left bank of the lakeshore Quai However, back in December 1920
President in 1912 on a Democratic Kingdom, France and Italy contri- Gustave Ador and the right bank it was clear that Wilson had alrea-
ticket and entered office in March buted to the German capitulation Quai Wilson. The Palais Wilson dy accepted defeat since, in his
1913. At first, he had a great deal in November 1918. Soon after, was originally constructed in annual message to Congress, he
of success in getting important President Wilson came to Europe 1872-75 as an administrative buil- did not mention the League of
legislation adopted by the Senate to attend the Peace Conference in ding and became the first head- Nations. In March 1921, the
and Congress. This was not too Paris and was received with quarters of the League of Nations Republican Warren Hastings took
difficult since the Democrats had a tumultuous enthusiasm in in 1919. Eventually, Geneva over as President.
majority in these two houses. England, France and Italy. He cal- assembled its resources to build
When the First World War broke led for "a general association of the Palais des Nations which was For his work in bringing peace to
out in Europe in August 1914, he nations' to guarantee security and opened in 1936. I have not found Europe, Woodrow Wilson was
was determined to keep the United in April 1919 a document establis- any evidence that Wilson ever set awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace
States Out of it. This was particu- hing the League of Nations was foot in the city. in 1921. With his health broken,
larly wise since the American approved unanimously. Despite he lived until 1924.
population was divided about Wilson's good intentions, the The Peace Treaty of Versailles was
which side to support—the Allies Allies insisted that they had won signed on 28 June 1919 and Woodrow Wilson had a profound
or Germany. Opinion hardened the war and that Germany had Wilson returned to Washington sense of responsibility for the
when a German submarine sank started it and had lost. Therefore, where political disaster awaited public welfare. He was genial,
the Lusitania on 7 May 1915 with Germany must pay 'reparations". him. Following the latest round of humourous, considerate and had
the loss of 123 American lives. This insistence was to destabilize elections, the Democratic Party wide cultural interests. He was an
Wilson first issued a warning and German politics throughout the had lost its majority in the outstanding orator and earned the
then an ultimatum that German 1920s and clear the way for the American Congress and Senate. admiration of all those who wor-
submarine commanders must rise of Hitler's dictatorship and the The powerful Foreign Relations ked with him. His major accom-
ensure for the safety of the passen- Second World War. Committee was now dominated by plishments in the early years of his
gers and crew of merchant ships. Wilson's political enemies—the presidency were somewhat overs-
A period of calm followed in The question then arose of where Republicans. Wilson conducted an hadowed by his tragic defeat at the
1916—at sea, at least. the League should be situated. The energetic nationwide campaign to hands of the senators over the
first choice was Brussels, but this have the Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations. Nevertheless,
In the presidential campaign of was the capital of a country with the Covenant on the League of his wisdom in calling for an inter-
1916, Wilson was re-elected and he which Germany had just been at Nations ratified. This campaign national body to maintain world
began to think about what role the war. A neutral country would be a failed and was, in fact, too energe- peace was vindicated after the
United States could play in any better choice and the obvious can- tic since he suffered a stroke. Second World War with the foun-
peace process. One of his ideas was didate was Geneva, the seat of the Finally, the United States voted not ding of the United Nations.
that there should be no victor and International Committee of the to join the League of Nations. HAYWARD BEYWOOD

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