ganization. President Wilson’s advisors warned him that a treaty involving the United States in an international police force would not be passed in the senate. However, Wilson believed that the senate would be forced to pass this treaty because, “He did not believe that the senate would dare incur the odium of committing so dastardly a crime against humanity.” The key article that threatened American sovereignty was Article 10, which read, “The Members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression of the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all Members of the League. In case of any such aggression or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression the council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.” President Wilson explained to the senators that this was a moral obligation but not necessarily a legal obligation. A nation would have the right to exercise it’s own judgment in each case; they would not be forced into war. Another reservation Lodge was concerned with was limiting the number of armaments that a nation could possess. Lodge wanted the United States to be able to increase their armament without the League knowing about it. They felt that by committing to this reservation, the League of Nations might gain control of the United States military. Another proposal by Lodge was to give the United States the right to ignore the League of Nations against sanctioning such nations as Germany and continue to trade with them. Even if this was against what the League believed was right. These reservations by Lodge would only benefit one nation and not mankind, which was what President Wilson, was striving towards and would not compromise on. Many senators favored this treaty, but approval of a treaty requires two- thirds of the Senate. However, the Senate was split into three different belief groups. Thes...
