| Introduction
International relations had a very different picture
during the period 1920-1939, where the struggle
for power, the issues as well as the power blocks
were different as today. Nonetheless the foreign
policy approaches have each countries were quite
different then today’s world. Basically
foreign policy are those policies a state formulates
in order to conduct its foreign relation that
include political, social as well as trade relations
with other countries.
However, the world was immensely involved into
ethnic conflicts and countries were struggling
for their very ideologies, these include fascism,
communism, totalitarianism, capitalism and so
on. (American Foreign Policy between the World
Wars http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/lec.forpol.html)
Though the ethnic conflicts are still going on
and the same war of ideologies but in a sophisticated
form. Well here we are to discuss the conditions
that prevented USA to participate actively in
an international system of peace.
The conditions that prevented the U.S to participate
in an international system of peace
Ever since the beginning, USA has kept its foreign
policy distinct from other countries of the world,
as it wants to enjoy the role of super power forever.
During the period of 1920-1939 it adopted a policy
of isolation from the world affairs of that time.
USA did not participate in the World War I and
kept it self away from the very affairs though
economically lend loans to the European countries
but personally did not participate in the war.
(Charles Beitz, P.55-150.1979) Basically the era
of 1920-1930 related to the postwar period where
the World War I was ended but left strong economic
depressions as well as social repercussions allover
the world. However, America through out adopted
a neutral policy towards the European countries
though the American nation responded strong hostile
feelings towards Nazism and strongly disapproved
the mechanism of Hitler. Where at this stage the
then President Roosevelt openly expressed his
policy of being neutral in 1939 that was an indirect
acceptance of his policy of isolation. (American
Foreign Relations, Vol. II, Chapter 4. Pages 7-8)
Nonetheless, America’s foreign policy was
more towards building and maintaining diplomatic
relations towards the allies. Though it did not
participated practically and openly in the war
but provided all diplomatic and internal support
to the allied powers. Specifically motivated them
for war against Germany. Where another instance
is support to England by not reacting for the
Violation of The Hague Convention and international
Law in relation to the illegal imports that helped
in leaking out information like the copper wires
for telephone lines. (Arthur S. Link, P.75-125.
1960)
Though, America adopted a policy of isolation
for a long time but still hosted a few treaties
in regard to maintain balance of power and build
confidence among the very countries of the world.
For instance The Washington Navel Treaty in 1921-2,
The Locarno Pacts in 1925 between Germany, France
and Britain, Kellogg-Briand Pact (Pact of Paris)
1928 and so on. (Charles Beitz, P.55-150.1979
Basically this was to make grounds for assuring
France and the other big allies for USA involvement
in international affairs. However the most important
aspect of the whole story was League of Nations.
It was and International Organization formulated
to maintain world peace and harmony, to reduce
the intensity of conflicts and specifically to
avoid any future world war.
However, League of Nation was a child born out
of the mind of USA, it did not participated in
it and eventually as the basis of the organization
was weak and it lacked specifically the participation
of USA and tremendously faced economic short comings
and could not stop the emergence of World War
II thus it failed completely with the outbreak
of World war II. Nonetheless the League worked
effectively in the beginning as America joined
ILO though not ready to become a member of the
League.
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