3.Peace Conference of 1919

Before the ending of the war，Wilson once presented all extremely attractive set of war aims.In a speech to Congress on Jan.8，1919，he outlined his Fourteen Points，which included the content of freedom of seas，removal of trade barriers，disarmament，national self-determination in central and Eastern Europe，and formation of the League of Nations to guarantee the political independence of all nations and to preserve international peace.The Allies were moderately attracted to Wilson Fourteen Points.This was reflected clearly at the formal peace conference held in Paris in 1919.From the beginning of the conference，decision-making rested with the leaders of the Big Four powers：President Wilson，England’s Prime Minister David Lloyd George，Italy’s Premier Vittorio Orlando，and France’s Premier Georges Clemenceau.The three Old World statesmen wanted to impose harsh postwar penalties on Germany，protecting their national security and carving up the territorial spoils as they had arranged beforehand in secret treaties.England，for example，had promised Japan the German right to the Chinese peninsula of Shandong，as well as the German Empire’s Pacific islands，in return for Japan’s entering the war on the Allied side.No wonder the peace conference had its difficulties，for every victorious power was motivated by self-interest.The inclusion of the League of Nations in the peace treaty was Wilson’s major triumph.In other treaty matters Wilsonian idealism was largely ignored by the Allies.In the end Wilson accepted the treaty terms which imposed a strict reduction of Germany’s army and navy，stripped her of all her colonies，and forced her to admit guilt for the war and to pay for its cost.

Other defeats were in store for Wilson.Not only was he obliged to compromise with less idealistic negotiators in Paris，but in his own country the idea of a League of Nations met increasing resistance.When the Treaty of Versailles was sent to the Senate for ratification，the US Senate refused to approve it.Thus the United States did not join the League of Nations at last.

America’s setback in the rivalry nourished a new tendency towards isolationism in American diplomacy，but the country could never again follow its old isolationist line，for it had become the strongest world power and the largest creditor.So the American government would certainly seek to speak with a stronger voice in world affairs.President Harding’s secretary of state，Charles Evans Hughes，called a conference of nations at Washington in 1921-1922.The United States，Britain，Japan，France and Italy were the principal powers involved.Among the minor powers at the conference were Belgium，China，Portugal，and the Netherlands.Three major treaties were concluded：the Four-Power Treaty，respecting the status quo in the Pacific；the Five-Power Treaty，on naval arms apportionment；and the Nine-Power Treaty，guaranteeing the independence and integrity of China in appearance，but actually apublic international affirmation of the Open Door Policy.After the Washington Conference，America again set up her dominant position in world affairs.