‘To End All Wars’Woodrow Wilson and his legacy

Dr Daryl Le Cornu, HTAA Conference, Brisbane 2014

djlecornu@hotmail.com

With the centenary of America’s entry into the First World War how should we remember President Woodrow Wilson?

1. IntroductionWill the real Woodrow Wilson stand up?

WW1 Centenary

Renewed interest in Woodrow WilsonApril 1917 – American Entry into WW1January 1918 – 14 Points Speech1919 – Treaty of Versailles1919 – the ‘League Fight’1920 – League of Nations begins

WW1 Centenary

Will the following also be commemorated?May 1916 - League to Enforce Peace speech

November 1916 Election – Wilson committed USA to a ‘league of nations’

18 December 1916 American Peace Note22 January 1917 – ‘Peace Without Victory’ speech

Who was Woodrow Wilson?

28th president of the United States of America

Led the USA into World War 1Founded the League of NationsOne of the most well-known presidents

BUTAlso one of the most controversial US presidents

Reputation roller-coaster

MESSIAH – a way out of WW1 that gave hope to the future

FAILURE – sacrificed everything to achieve his main objective (a League) then failed to convince the US to join

PROPHET – reputation revived in WW2 – Wilson was now seen as being right about the League

Best and worst presidents

Does not appear near the top of the many lists of best US presidents

Yet Wilson does not appear near the bottom of any of the lists

So, what was Bob Carr on about?

Carr’s concerns about Wilson Segregation policies Civil rights abuses in WW1 Wartime strategy Harsh Treaty of Versailles and post-

war settlement League had no chance of succeeding

Was Carr right about Woodrow Wilson?

Woodrow Wilson’s legacy

We will consider…historians’ viewscontemporary supportersresearch on the views of British and American peace activists

2. Historians’ views

Laurence Martin Peace Without Victory 1958 relationship between British

Radicals and President Wilson

influence went both ways similar views on liberal

internationalism Agreed on most points of

detail and method BUT Serious misgivings since US

entry in 1917 Harsh critics of Treaty of

Versailles

Thomas Knock To End All Wars 1992 centrality of the League to

Wilson’s foreign policy a statesman ahead of his

times

BUT made crucial mistakes of

strategy Alienated most of his

supporters by 1919 STILL The enduring relevance of

his vision

James Blight & Robert McNamara Wilson’s Ghost 2001 Wilson – only world statesman

who sensed that the human race might destroy itself and that radical changes were needed to the international system

Advocated multilateral approach via the League

Wilson’s predictions about the 20th Century were tragically correct

BUT Failed - and Wilson was wrong

on self-determination

Thomas Fleming The Illusion of Victory 2003 British and French duped Wilson into

entering WW1 on their side by use of propaganda – Wellington House

Wilson’s ‘tragically flawed’ intervention into WW1 which showed the limitations of power

Illusion of idealism – the expectation that noble words could be translated into meaningful realities

Wilson corrupted the peace process by claiming principles that he failed to support

Wilson betrayed the moderates in Germany who created the Weimar Republic

David S Paterson The Search for a Negotiated Peace

2008 Wilson failed to work with others with

similar beliefs Wilson wanted to mediate an end to the

war on his own not with other neutrals ignored conference of neutrals idea in

1915 and 1916

BUT failed in his own mediation attempts

from Dec 1916 to Feb 1917 After US entry attacked the ‘stupidity’ of

pacifists lost opportunities with negotiated peace

John Milton Cooper Breaking the Heart of the World

2001 The League Fight Wilson’s inflexibility and refusal to

compromise Illness the biggest obstacle to a

more constructive outcome BUT ‘for all their decency and

intelligence, Wilson’s opponents were wrong. For all his flaws and missteps, Wilson was right. He should have won the League fight. His defeat did break the heart of the world.’

John Milton Cooper

Woodrow Wilson 2009 ‘In the end, much about Wilson

remains troubling.’ Do his sins of omission and

commission outweigh the good he did, or do his words and deeds overshadow his transgressions?’

‘..one of the deepest and most daring souls ever to inhabit the White House. His was also a flawed soul rendered worse by the failing of his body, which consigned his presidency to an inglorious end.’

A Scott Berg Wilson 2014 ‘a century after Wilson's

inauguration, and .. he still remains the most successful, extremely progressive figure we've had in American politics.’

‘loomed larger than any other president in the 20th Century’

BUT A progressive thinker but the

biggest strike against him personally was that he was a racist

Richard Striner Wilson’s strategic incompetence

gave a good cause a bad name ‘The most striking thing to me about

his wartime record was his failure to engage in sufficient contingency planning when it came to the politics of the war.’

‘Wilson set back his own cause through his miserable judgement, his naïve suppositions, his petulance, his rhetorical excess – all of it!’

‘To put it harshly, he was a disaster. He was not the right leader for American during World War 1.’

Historians’ wisdom of hindsight

Historians have the benefit of hindsightWhat about the views of Wilson’s contemporaries at the time?

We will examine the views of some of his supporters from August to November 1917

Who were Wilson’s supporters?

American peace activistsAmerican progressives and socialistsBritish RadicalsBritish LeftPeace groups – eg Union of Democratic Control (UDC), NCF, feminists etc

3. Wilson and World War 1

Outbreak of War

Wilson’s attitude to the War – like most Americans he was puzzled about causes

Not persuaded by atrocity stories Early offers to mediate

Wilson and WW1 to 1917Woodrow Wilson (Democratic Party) – opposed

to entering WW1. Pursued neutrality while offering to mediate.

The Left – opposed involvement in War. Instead, they advocated that the US should mediate.

Feminist groups – dropped suffrage campaign to advocate a mediated peace. Most notable - Jane Addams and the Womens’ Peace Party

35

36

American delegation to

the Hague Congress

American delegation to the International Womens’ Congress

The Hague 1915

WW1 - ‘peace groups’ mobilise

ON THE CONTINENTWomen’s Hague CongressApril/May 1915 1800 women Jane Addams Julia Grace Wales 19 point plan to end the war and create a just

and lasting peace Advocated a Neutral Conference of Continual

Mediation to operate while the war continues to develop a peace plan

Took the plan to national leaders of belligerent and neutral nations

Origin of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)

League of Free Nations

July 1918

League of Nations Society

May 1915

League of Nations Union

Oct 1918

LEPLeague to Enforce

Peace

USA1915

President WilsonFrom May 1916

Links to ‘league’ organisations

House-Grey Memorandum Feb 1916

League to Enforce Peace speechMay 1916

Promised to support the creation of a ‘league of nations’ once the War was over

Presidential electionNov 1916

Made the ‘league’ a major plank of his foreign policy platform in the November 1916 Elections.

The German Peace Note12 December 1916

Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg had favoured a possible US mediation since September.

Bethmann-Hollweg wanted to achieve a negotiated peace to thwart the High Command’s (Hindenburg & Ludendorff) plan to escalate the War by initiating unrestricted submarine warfare.

44

The American Peace Note18 December 1916Wilson had delayed an attempt at public

mediation until after the November 1916 election. With a second term secured Wilson felt free to mediate peace.

Received high praise from British and American ‘peace movements’. eg UDC

Allied leaders were shocked and felt betrayed. The King of England ‘wept’

The Reaction of Allied Governments to the Peace Notes

Allied governments were outraged. Note: Britain now had a right-wing coalition government under ex-Liberal Lloyd George dedicated to a fight to the finish with Germany – a ‘Knock-Out Blow’.

Allied Replies: -Dismissed German peace offer as arrogantBut, a polite rejection of US Note - 10th Jan 1917 –due to

financial dependence on US loans.

46

Peace Without Victory Speech22 January 1917

‘Peace Without Victory’ speech

President Wilson’s speech 22 January 1917

Criticized secret diplomacy, imperialism and militarism of both sides.

Reflected the UDC prescription for a just and lasting peace

Supported the creation of a ‘league of nations’An attempt to keep mediation alive.Wilson’s most significant speech.

48

Significance of ‘Peace Without Victory’ Speech

A world statesman appeared to have reacted to the pressure of British and American ‘peace groups’ by adopting a left-wing liberal-internationalist prescription for world order.

Wilson’s gave hope to a war-weary public

49

Steps to US entry into WW1Unrestricted Submarine Warfare – Feb. 1917 &

Zimmerman Telegram.Wilson still hoped for mediation during February

and March but failed to engage Germany in peace discussions

Lloyd George suggested the only way he could influence the peace settlement was join the War on the side of the Allies

War Speech – 2 April 1917USA at War 6 April 1917

50

Reasons for US Entry into WW1To make the world ‘safe for democracy’ not for selfish gain

To have a seat at the peace conference and shape the peace settlement

To get a League of Nations – the major aim of US foreign policy since May 1916

51

War Speech – 2 April 1917

War Speech – 2 April 1917

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xh0IRgr-lI

Conditions for US Entry?

No collusion on Allied secret treatiesAn ‘Associated Power’ NOT an allyWhy? – to reserve the right for a separate peace

BUTDid not set conditions on US assistance to Allies

54

Long-term strategy AEF will win the war

(by 1919 or 1920) Allies will be financially

indebted to the USA So, the USA will dominate

at the peace conference & secure a league of nations and just peace

Long-term strategyThe Allies will be financially in our hands.

Long-term strategyThe Allies will be financially in our hands.

BUT Wilson did not set

conditions with the Allies for US joining the war

US mobilisation was painfully slow

US soldiers in France not allowed to fight until whole US Army formed

Wilson’s diplomacy 1917

SILENT for months – said nothing about revising war aims

ignored Russian request for a revision of war aims

Russian RevolutionMarch 1917

Liberal-Socialist government adopted moderate war aims. Known as the Petrograd Formula – ‘no annexations, no indemnities’

Requests for Allies to redefine war aims to make a Germany more likely to accept a negotiated peace.

59

Benedict XV – Papal Peace Note

THE VATICAN

- Pope Benedict XVSought to mediate peace since 1914Proposed Christmas Truce in 1914Approved of Wilson’s previous

proposals for a negotiated peace with Germany, a just peace and ‘freedom of the seas’

August 1917 – Issued his PAPAL PEACE NOTE – with a simple 8-point plan for ending the war

Benedict XV – Papal Peace Note

Bright Hope, p. 143

4. The New Wilsonian Vision: Sept-Nov 1917

Wilson’s Reply to the Papal Peace Note – 27 Aug 1917

Rejected negotiated peace based on Pope’s seven-point plan.

No return to the ‘status quo ante bellum’

Targeted the German rulers, not the German people

WHY?

1. German government is a menace to the world

2. Russia would be doomed if German rulers were left in power

3. Germans would use a negotiated peace to recuperate and strike again at some future date

Henry W Massingham NationWilson’s Reply was

impractical and short-sighted

Making a German revolution a pre-condition for peace would prolong the War

Despaired of Wilson’s strategy

Phillip SnowdenLabour LeaderWhat about the Allied war aims

and secret treaties?Wilson’s demand for democracy

in Germany was ‘objectionable’Hypocritical – are the

constitutions of Allied nations any more democratic?

Suggested there should be a revolution for democracy in Great Britain and America too

Henry BrailsfordHerald

‘Mr Wilson has ruined the Pope’s intervention.’

Wilson’s Reply cannot be reconciled with Wilson’s ‘Peace Without Victory’ speech

If America helps the Allies to crush Germany will Wilson be able to restrain the Allies’ ‘plans of dismemberment and vengeance?’

Wilson’s Reply will retard German democracy

John Nevin Sayrebrother of Wilson’s son-in-law

Wilson’s Reply starkly different to his Dec 1916 Peace Note

Will strengthen German reactionaries

Will lengthen the WarWill end up with a

‘peace of exhaustion’ which will not be a good basis for a just and lasting peace

Randolph Bourne‘The Collapse of American Strategy’ Aug 1917

Armed Neutrality had been the USA’s best option

Will prolong the War and encourage reactionaries

US strategy now the same as the Allies

The pacifists were right when they predicted this when the US entered the War

Randolph Bourne‘The Collapse of American Strategy’ Aug 1917

‘The liberals …trusted him to use a war-technique which should consist of an olive branch in one hand and a sword in the other. They have had to see their strategy collapse under the very weight of that war-technique. Guarding neutrality, we might have countered toward a speedy and democratic peace. In the war, we are a rudderless nation, as the Allies wish, politically and materially, and towed to their aggrandizement, in any direction which they may desire.’

Randolph S Bourne, ‘The Collapse of American Strategy’, pp. 34-35.

Randolph Bourne‘The Collapse of American Strategy’ Aug 1917

‘The liberals …trusted him to use a war-technique which should consist of an olive branch in one hand and a sword in the other. They have had to see their strategy collapse under the very weight of that war-technique. Guarding neutrality, we might have countered toward a speedy and democratic peace. In the war, we are a rudderless nation, as the Allies wish, politically and materially, and towed to their aggrandizement, in any direction which they may desire.’

Randolph S Bourne, ‘The Collapse of American Strategy’, pp. 34-35.

5. From the Fourteen Points to the League

The Fourteen Points Speech8 January 1918

Influenced by UDC and progressive ideas.

Wilson’s Aims to counter Bolshevik appeal to rally public opinion behind his vision for

peace. to pressure Allied leaders to accept his terms.To cause dissent in Germany

The ‘Fourteen Points’ to the Armistice

Wilson’s League proposal was part of the ‘14 Points’

Oct 1918 – Germany asks for Armistice on basis on ‘14 Points’

BUT - Allied leaders (British, French and Italian) had not signed up to the ’14 Points

6 Nov 1918 - Allied leaders agreed to Armistice with Germany on the basis of the ‘14 Points’ – though a conditional acceptance

Constructing the League

Wilson did not consult or attempt to build bipartisan consensus

Political and organic vision for the League

Discouraged public discussion on plans for a League until the war was over

LEP’s vision of a judicial law-based League - rejected

Peace Conference

Peace Conference – fighting for the League

Feb 1919 - Wilson fought against Allied leaders to get the League

British government influence on draft League Covenant via Robert Cecil and Jan Smuts

League accepted as part of the Treaty

Peace Conference – fighting for the League

Feb 1919 - Wilson fought against Allied leaders to get the League

British government influence on draft League Covenant via Robert Cecil and Jan Smuts

League accepted as part of the Treaty

PROBLEM Wilson had to agree to a harsh peace

treaty in return for acceptance of his League by Allied leaders

Both the League and Treaty of Versailles were rejected by the US Senate

USA did not join the League

The ‘League Fight’ back home

Lodge led Senate opposition to League ratification by the US.

Opposition to multilateral commitment by USA.

Now, as a great power the USA should act unilaterally in world affairs and avoid entangling obligations.

78

Senator Lodge

Why did Wilson lose the ‘League Fight’?Wilson’s alienation of his support baseWilson’s poor judgmentOctober – Wilson fell victim to a massive stroke

after an exhausting tour of the nation in September.

Wilson hardened and refused any watering down of the League.

March 1920 – League ratification fails for the second time

USA never joined the League

79

6. Wilson’s failure as a neutral and at war

Wilson’s failure in WW1 – to April 1917Shunned other neutral nations who wanted US

leadership of neutral mediation attemptsFailed to engage with other plans to end the war

via mediationWilson followed official neutrality but refused to

stop munitions trade, Allied loans, or curtail the right of Americans to sail on belligerent ships

Played a ‘lone hand’ on mediation. If there was to be mediation it was to be himself as mediator.

Wilson’s failure in WW1 – after US EntryWilson was the lone ‘Wilsonian’ in his government Incapable of defending civil liberties domesticallyAppeared to abandon his policy of achieving a

lasting peace via a negotiated end to the WarWilson’s entry into the War on the side of the Allies

was unconditionalWilson killed off possibilities of a negotiated peace

during 1917Declared no definite peace terms until Jan 1918Kept the Allied leaders at arms length and put

them under no pressure to revise their war aims

7. Wilson’s legacy

Wilson’s Legacy

The only world statesman to promote the idea of a League of Nations to guarantee the future peace of the world

Succeeded in creating a League of NationsLeague was the forerunner of the United

Nations and post WW2 settlement which has created the legal (and moral) foundation for the world today.

.

Wilson’s Legacy

The only world statesman to promote the idea of a League of Nations to guarantee the future peace of the world

Succeeded in creating a League of NationsLeague was the forerunner of the United

Nations and post WW2 settlement which has created the legal (and moral) foundation for the world today..

And the only hope for the future