When war broke out in Europe in August 1914 he was able to call a press conference in which he lectured the White House reporters on the need for them to strive for complete neutrality and urging them not to fan the flames of public opinion.1 “Of course, the European world is in a highly excited state of mind, but the excitement ought not to spread to the United States. So far as we are concerned, there is no cause for excitement.”2 Woodrow Wilson's initial firm stance on neutrality was
One of these points saw to the creation of the League of Nations, an alliance between nations that was based on a system called, Collective Security. This point is a prime example of why many consider Wilson a Visionary Idealist. Collective Security involved member nations of the League of Nations coming to the aid of a country threatened by a belligerent nation. This system was a completely new thing as peace between nations was usually kept by a series of treaties that could be violated at any moment without repercussions. The reason why the League of Nations was idealistic was because Britain and France would be forced to accept Germany’s induction.
Consequently, the solution was simple: Reunification. And if it took another war to do it, then so be it. This signalled the first involvement of the USA as they had been funding the French army before they were kicked out. Ho wanted to create a socialist Vietnamese state. However, the USA in the 1950s believed that if South Vietnam (which was not controlled by Ho) fell to Ho, this would mean communist expansion.
inland policy created on March 12, 1947 by President Harry S Truman. In his speech to Congress, Truman declared that the United States, as "leader of the free world", must support democracy worldwide and fight against communism. The approach was conceived with the help of George Marshall and Dean Acheson, two influential associates of Truman, which generalized his hopes for Greece and Turkey into a doctrine applicable throughout the world. The Soviet Union was clearly at the heart of Truman's thoughts, but it was never directly mentioned in his speech, Truman was attempting to solve Eastern Europe's instability while making sure that communism would not spread to nations like Greece and Turkey. “It is important to note that the Greek Government has asked for our aid in utilizing effectively the financial and other assistance we may give to Greece, and in improving its public administration.
The documentary, Fog of War, allows some insight into the choices and decisions that were faced by former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. I believe McNamara’s worldview has and continues to persist that America has a duty to act on behalf of the world community and that stability between and within nations is paramount to national security. It is this worldview that was the basis for his strategy throughout the Cold War. Previous administrations had committed the US to assisting Vietnam, but during Kennedy’s years Vietnam fell into further conflict after the coup in 1963. McNamara’s advice to withdraw military personnel prior the coup was no longer an option as instability in Vietnam posed a threat to national security.
The issuing of the Polignac Memorandum in October 1823 by George Canning, stating that Great Britain had no intention of helping Spain in the retention of her colonies is indicative of this interventionist nature, with Britain recognising the independence of Mexico, Columbia and Buenos Aires. Also, British involvement in Greece occurred as a result of concerns over Russian ambitions in the Ottoman Empire: the British were trying to protect Greek independence. This again shows involvement in a war on a major scale in order to support a liberal movement, supporting the aforementioned interpretation. Additionally, Britain also took major steps in this period in creating an amicable relationship with America by solving outstanding border disputes (especially Lord Aberdeen, who had to work with the highly anti-British President Polk), showing that Britain was even aiding the liberal ambitions of a former British colony, meaning that the administrations in the period was highly sympathetic to such movements. Hence, it can be seen that British support for foreign movements for national independence plays quite a substantial role in their foreign policy.
VII. Major Foreign Policy Issues: A. Neutrality Proclamation (1793) – Washington’s announcement that the United States would not take sides with either France or Great Britain in their ongoing conflict. This was somewhat controversial because of the assistance France provided to the United States during
During the Paris Peace conference of 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was created as a peace treaty to end WW1 and prevent future conflict with Germany. From the beginning the Big Three had different opinions as to how Germany should be treated. It can be argued that the treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany and therefore caused embitterment within Germany, which ultimately lead to the public supporting Hitler who through propaganda convinced the public that he would undo the terms of the treaty. After the horrors of World War 1, the people of Europe wanted to retain peace in Europe. The big three at the Paris Peace Conference; Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Woodrow Wilson, had different opinions as to how Germany should be treated and how peace would be returned to Europe.
America’s objective was to end the war and independent nation (506-508). France and America were allies merely as a means to an end. They both disliked Britain and wanted to weaken its forces. However, peace talks between Britain and America began in 1781,
Thus, the debate of whether he was a true Communist or not. Ho Chi Minh did not want war with the French and did everything he could to prevent it. He called upon the United States support through the O.S.S. officers he had cultivated during the war. At one stage, Ho offered the United States a naval base at Cam Ranh Bay.