The European War The Powers Classic Reprint PDF Download

Excerpt from The European War, Vol. 20 The Treaty of Versailles that formally ended the World War was an imperfect instrument. None would have admitted this more readily than its framers. Few of its decisions were unchallenged. Many were the targets of bitter criticism. Most were the result of compromise. With all its defects, however, the treaty represented the best thought and effort of the allied statesman. The world's long agony was over and the notations turned from the destructive energies of war to the constructive processes of peace. The treaty was ratified by Great Britain, July 31; by Italy, Oct 7; by France, Oct 13, and by Japan, Oct 27. It was submitted to the United States Senate by President Wilson July 10, and after a long and exhaustive debate, which will be referred to later, was rejected by that body, Nov 19. The German National Assembly ratified the treaty July 9 by a vote of 208 to 115; 99 Deputies refraining from voting. As only the ratification of three of the major allied and associated nations was required in addition to that of Germany, the treaty became a valid instrument, though many months were to elapse before the formal exchange of ratification should put all its clauses into effect. Signed on the same day as the Treaty of Versailles, but only made public four days later, were treaties between the United States and France, and between France and Great Britain, by the terms of which the two powers agreed to come to the aid of France if any unprovoked act of aggression were committed against her by Germany. It was provided that the treaties should be submitted to the council of the League of Nations, which would decide whether to recognize them as engagements in conformity with the League covenant; it was also agreed that the Franco-American Treaty should be submitted to the United States Senate and the French Parliament for approval. The alliance had been suggested by France, who felt that adequate protection against a revived and revengeful Germany had not been accorded her by the main treaty. The supplementary pact referred to Articles 42 and 43 of the Versailles Treaty, which forbade Germany to establish any fortification or maintain any military forces on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank to the west of a line drawn fifty kilometres to the east of the same river; and the binding clause was as follows: "In case these stipulations should not assure immediately to France appropriate security and protection, the United States of America shall be bound to come immediately to her aid in case of any unprovoked act of aggression directed against her by Germany." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.