American Foreign Policy 1920 1941 Ms Susan M

American Foreign Policy: 1920 -1941 Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

Foreign Policy Tensions Interventionism Disarmament • Collective security • Isolationism • “Wilsonianism” • Nativists • Business interests • Anti-War movement • Conservative Republicans

American Isolationism 5 Isolationists like Senator Lodge, refused to allow the US to sign the Versailles Treaty. 5 Security treaty with France also rejected by the Senate. 5 July, 1921 Congress passed a resolution declaring WW I officially over! Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA]

Washington Disarmament Conference (1921 -1922) 5 Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain to aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with the United States. 5 Goals naval disarmament and the political situation in the Far East.

Five-Power Treaty (1922) 5 A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio: US 5 Britain 5 Japan 3 France 1. 67 Italy 1. 67 5 Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would stop fortifying their Far East territories [including the Philippines]. 5 Loophole no restrictions on small warships

European Debts to the US

Hyper-Inflation in Germany: 1923

Dawes Plan (1924)

Young Plan (1930) 5 For three generations, you’ll have to slave away! 5 $26, 350, 000 to be paid over a period of 58½ years. 5 By 1931, Hoover declared a debt moratorium.

Locarno Pact (1925) 5 Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. 5 Germany signed treaties with Poland Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration only

Clark Memorandum (1928) 5 Clark pledged that the US would not intervene in Latin American affairs in order to protect US property rights. 5 This was a complete Secretary of State J. Reuben Clark rebuke of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine!

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) 5 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and war as tools of foreign policy. 5 62 nations signed. 5 Problems no means of actual enforcement and gave Americans a false sense of security.

Japanese Attack Manchuria (1931) 5 League of Nations condemned the action. 5 Japan leaves the League. 5 Hoover wanted no part in an American military action in the Far East.

Hoover-Stimpson Doctrine (1932) 5 US would not recognize any territorial acquisitions that were achieved by force. 5 Japan was infuriated because the US had conquered new territories a few decades earlier. 5 Japan bombed Shanghai in 1932 massive casualties.

1933 London Economic Conference 5 This highlights Roosevelt’s unwillingness to engage in international affairs as a result of the depth and depravity of the depression at home § Conference called 66 nations § Goals Ø Coordinated attack against world depression Ø Stabilize world currencies 5 But Roosevelt wanted to continue his gold and inflationary policies at home to spur recovery domestically. § Basically, not willing to sacrifice domestic recovery to help international recovery § This every man for itself mentality hurt the global recovery and reflected the isolationism and also nationalism of many nations in the 1930’s.

Freedom for Philippines 5 Roosevelt also freed the Americans from the Philippines (or vice-versa) § Tydings-Mc. Duffie Act of 1934 ØIndependence given after a 12 -year period of economic and political tutelage ØU. S. would keep naval bases but relinquish army bases 5 Reflects isolationism in the early 1930’s again, and many argue empowers Japan to later attack the Philippines as the threat of American defense diminished

FDR Recognizes the Soviet Union (late 1933) 5 FDR felt that recognizing Moscow might bolster the US against Japan. 5 Maybe trade with the USSR would help the US economy during the Depression.

FDR’s “Good Neighbor” Policy 5 Important to have all nations in the Western Hemisphere united in lieu of foreign aggressions. 5 FDR The good neighbor respects himself and the rights of others. 5 Policy of non-intervention and cooperation. 5 Also perhaps speaks to a regional role for America as opposed to a world role

FDR’s “Good Neighbor” Policy 5 Basically, angry neighbors do not help in the event you are attacked. So Roosevelt figures it is beneficial to not point bayonets at the Caribbean and Latin America. 5 Plus, must consider that a lot of investment left these areas, so not much to protect 5 Reversal of Roosevelt Corollary 5 Examples 5 Marines leave Haiti 5 Cuba relieved of Platt Overall, the policy made Roosevelt well-liked and Brought upon good relations. Amendment 5 Panama grip relaxed 5 Mexico Oil Stuff

Reciprocal Trade Agreements 5 Roosevelt and his Secretary of State Hull both believed that trade was a two way street and in low tariffs (high tariffs meant trade wars which precipitated shooting wars) 5 Reciprocal Trading Agreements Act of 1934 § Low tariffs § Aimed at relief and recovery § Allowed Roosevelt to lower rates as much as 50% as long as other country involved did the same thing § Also by-passed the Senate, so easier to get done 5 Hull negotiated pacts with 21 countries 5 Trade increased 5 Important legislation as it changed the High Tariff policies since Civil War and paved the way to international free trade that occurred after WWII

Rise of Fascism 5 Post World War I Europe was a very chaotic time and spawned totalitarian states in which the individual was nothing and the state was everything. 5 3 dictators rise and gain complete control § Stalin-USSR § Hitler- Germany § Mussolini- Italy 5 Of the three, Hitler posed the largest threat § Very impulsive and nationalistic. Able to gain control of Germany through denunciation of the Treaty of Versailles and the chaos of the depression § Hitler in many ways was the by-product of post war policies of Europe and the United States

Specter of Japan 5 Another have-not power, Japan hoped to enrich itself at the expense of its resource rich neighbors. § Angry at Treaty of Versailles § Looking for resources § Looking for space 5 1934, terminated the 12 year old Washington Naval Treaty 5 1935, quit League of Nations. Building more battleships 5 1940, joined with Germany and Italy in the Tripartite Pact

Italy and Mussolini 5 In 1935, attacked Ethiopia. Italy was also a have-not power 5 League of Nations does nothing, and an oil embargo would have done the job 5 But United States remained neutral, feeling protected by distance and oceans § World War I seen as a blunder § Fearful of debtors § And blinded by depression § America fearful of the rise of the have nots, but more so in regards to having to join the fray like in WWI

Nye Committee Hearings (1934 -1936) 5 The Nye Committee investigated the charge that WW I was needless and the US entered so munitions owners could make big profits [“merchants of death. ”] 5 The Committee did charge Senator Gerald P. Nye [R-ND] that bankers wanted war to protect their loans & arms manufacturers to make money. 5 Claimed that Wilson had provoked Germany by sailing in to warring nations’ waters. 5 Resulted in Congress passing several Neutrality Acts.

FDR’s “I hate war” Speech (1936)

Ludlow Amendment (1938) 5 A proposed amendment to the Constitution that called for a national referendum on any declaration of war by Congress. 5 Introduced several Congressman Louis Ludlow [D-IN] times by Congressman Ludlow. 5 Never actually passed.

Neutrality Acts: 1935, 1936, 1937 5 When the President proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect: § Prohibited sales of arms to belligerent nations. § Prohibited loans and credits to belligerent nations. § Forbade Americans to travel on vessels of nations at war [in contrast to WW I]. § Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-andcarry” basis pay when goods are picked up. § Banned involvement in the Spanish Civil War. 5 This limited the options of the President in a crisis. 5 America in the 1930 s declined to build up its forces!

US Neutrality

U. S Neutrality 5 Head-in-the Sand Neutrality § Abandonment of policy of freedom of the seas § Tailored for World War I, but one war too late § Assumed the decision for war or not lay in the solely in the hands of the Americans, not the satanic forces unleashed in the world § Prisoner of its own fears, did not realize its enormous power could have been used for good. Instead, U. S simply stood on the sidelines refusing to go in and play. § Worst of all, U. S. made it clear it would make no distinction between aggressor and innocent, which tipped the scales in favor of the aggressors

Spanish Civil War (1936 -1939) The American “Lincoln Brigade”

Spanish Civil War (1936 -1939) 5 Fought between fascist leader Francisco Franco, and the leftist leaning Spanish government § Dress rehearsal for World War II § Hitler and Mussolini aided Franco § Soviets aided Spanish government 5 As a result of the Neutrality Acts, U. S. did not sell arms to either belligerent, even though the U. S. continued to formally recognize the Spanish Loyalist Government 5 By doing so, U. S. , along with other democracies allowed another democracy to be strangled to death and helped establish a dictatorship in Spain

Invasion of China (1937) 5 Japan invaded in 1937 5 Roosevelt shrewdly did not declare it a war, so munitions sold to Chinese, but also Japan. 5 Quarantine Speech § Chicago 1937 ØCalled for a quarantine of the aggressors, most likely through economic embargoes ØSpeech not well received and Roosevelt back down. Many feared the moral quarantine was a prelude to a shooting war

Panay Incident (1937) 5 December 12, 1937. 5 Japan bombed USS Panay gunboat & three Standard Oil tankers on the Yangtze River. 5 The river was an international waterway. 5 Japan was testing US resolve! 5 Japan apologized, paid US an indemnity, and promised no further attacks. 5 Most Americans were satisfied with the apology. 5 Results Japanese interpreted US tone as a license for further aggression against US interests.

Fascist Aggression 5 1935: Hitler denounced the Versailles Treaty & the League of Nations [re-arming!] Mussolini attacks Ethiopia. 5 1936: German troops sent into the Rhineland. Fascist forces sent to fight with Franco in Spain. 5 1938: Austrian Anschluss. Rome-Berlin Tokyo Pact [AXIS] Munich Agreement Sudetenland APPEASEMENT! 5 1939: German troops march into the rest of Czechoslovakia. Hitler-Stalin Non-Aggression Pact. 5 September 1, 1939: German troops march into Poland blitzkrieg WW II begins!!!

European response 5 France and Britain declare war on Germany after the attack on Poland. 5 However, it is clear at this point that the policy of appeasement was ill-fated. 5 Simply empowered Dictators to continue their aggressive nature. 5 Stalin also took half of Poland per the agreement with Hitler.

1939 Neutrality Act 5 In response to Germany’s invasion of Poland. 5 FDR persuades Congress in special session to allow the US to aid European democracies in a limited way: § The US could sell weapons to the European democracies on a “cash-and-carry” basis. § FDR was authorized to proclaim danger zones which US ships and citizens could not enter. 5 Results of the 1939 Neutrality Act: § Aggressors could not send ships to buy US munitions. § The US economy improved as European demands for war goods helped bring the country out of the 1937 -38 recession. 5 America becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy. ”

Phony War and 1940 5 Nothing happened until 1940, then Hitler attacked and defeated the following: § Denmark § Norway § Netherlands § Belgium § June 1940, France surrenders after only a couple of weeks of fighting. Ø Remember Dunkirk § Defeat of France shocked Americans and they finally realized the folly of neutrality, especially since all that stood was Britain § 37 billion (5 times larger than New Deal spending) appropriated to build military and navy so U. S. would be ready for war and to aid Britain and its Western European Allies § Conscription Law also passed late 1940, first peace time draft

“America First” Committee and Committee to Defend America by Aiding its Allies Charles Lindbergh

Pro-British Propaganda 5 This patriotic poster was put out by the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies. Imperial War Museum

Destroyer Deal 5 During the Battle of Britain, the United States had a tough choice of either remaining neutral or directly aiding the British. § America First v Committee to Defend America 5 However, Roosevelt decided to aid Britain and first move was in Sept 1940, when he enacted the Destroyer Deal § Britain needed destroyers to defend against UBoats § US gave 50 WWI destroyers for free in return for 8 bases from Newfoundland to South America Ø Public opinion for most part supported this move, “all aid short of war. ”

A Campaign Poster from the Election of 1940 5 Roosevelt emerged as the only president ever to break the two-term tradition. FDR Library

Presidential Election of 1940 5 Willkie referred to Roosevelt only as “the third-term candidate. ” On election eve FDR hinted that communists and fascists were among Willkie’s supporters. Despite these campaign conflicts, the two men respected each other. FDR later asked Willkie to serve as his emissary abroad and even suggested that they run together on a Copyright (c) Houghton Mifflin Company. All Rights Reserved. coalition ticket in 1944.

“Lend-Lease” Act (1941) Great Britain. . . $31 billion Soviet Union. . . . $11 billion France. . . . . $ 3 billion China. . . . . $1. 5 billion Other European. . . . $500 million South America. . . . . $400 million The amount totaled: $48, 601, 365, 000

No to Lend-Lease 5 Members of the Massachusetts Woman’s Political Club presented President Roosevelt with a petition protesting adoption of the Lend. Lease Bill and picketed the White House. They feared that America’s increasing involvement with the Allied cause would eventually draw their sons into battle--as it did, despite the Brown Brothers president’s assurances to the contrary.

Main Flow of Lend-Lease Aid (width of arrows indicates relative amount) 5 The proud but desperate British prime minister, Winston Churchill, declared in early 1941, “Give us the tools and we will finish the job. ” Lend-lease eventually provided the British and other Allies with $50 billion worth of “tools. ” Copyright (c) Houghton Mifflin Company. All Rights Reserved.

Unexpected Guest, 1941 Detroit News

Atlantic Charter 5 Off the coast of Newfoundland, Roosevelt and Churchill met on a warship 5 They constructed the Atlantic Charter: § Had 8 points, in many ways similar to Wilson’s 14 points § It outlined the world that the world democracies imagined at the war’s end § Calls for self-determination and a new League of Nations § Precursor to NATO

8 points of Atlantic Charter 5 Their countries seek no aggrandissement, territorial or other. 5 THEY DESIRE TO SEE NO TERRITORIAL CHANGES THAT DO NOT ACCORD WITH THE FREELY EXPRESSED WISHES OF THE PEOPLES CONCERNED. 5 They respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of Government under which they will live; and they wish to see sovereign rights and self-government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them. 5 THEY WILL ENDEAVOUR WITH DUE RESPECT FOR THEIR EXISTING OBLIGATIONS, TO FURTHER ENJOYMENT BY ALL STATES, GREAT OR SMALL, VICTOR OR VANQUISHED, OF ACCESS, ON EQUAL TERMS, TO THE TRADE AND TO THE RAW MATERIALS OF THE WORLD WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR THEIR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. 5 THEY DESIRE TO BRING ABOUT THE FULLEST COLLABORATION BETWEEN ALL NATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC FIELD, WITH THE OBJECT OF SECURING FOR ALL IMPROVED LABOUR STANDARDS, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, AND SOCIAL SECURITY. 5 AFTER THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF NAZI TYRANNY, THEY HOPE TO SEE ESTABLISHED A PEACE WHICH WILL AFFORD TO ALL NATIONS THE MEANS OF DWELLING IN SAFETY WITHIN THEIR OWN BOUNDARIES, AND WHICH WILL AFFORD ASSURANCE THAT ALL THE MEN IN ALL THE LANDS MAY LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES IN FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND WANT. 5 SUCH A PEACE SHOULD ENABLE ALL MEN TO TRAVERSE THE HIGH SEAS AND OCEANS WITHOUT HINDRANCE. 5 THEY BELIEVE ALL OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, FOR REALISTIC AS WELL SPIRITUAL REASONS, MUST COME TO THE ABANDONMENT OF THE USE OF FORCE. SINCE NO FUTURE PEACE CAN BE MAINTAINED IF LAND, SEA, OR AIR ARMAMENTS CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYED BY NATIONS WHICH THREATEN, OR MAY THREATEN AGGRESSION OUTSIDE OF THEIR FRONTIERS, THEY BELIEVE, PENDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WIDER AND PERMANENT SYSTEM OF GENERAL SECURITY, THAT THE DISARMAMENT OF SUCH NATIONS IS ESSENTIAL. THEY WILL LIKEWISE AID AND ENCOURAGE ALL OTHER PRACTICABLE MEASURES WHICH WILL LIGHTEN FOR PEACE-LOVING PEOPLES THE CRUSHING BURDEN OF ARMAMENT. "

To convoy or Not to convoy 5 Know the significance of the following ships: § Robert Moor § Greer § Kearny § Reuben James

Pearl Harbor 5 Why? § U. S embargo on oil § Freezing of Japanese assets § Negotiations and diplomacy failed 5 So Japan left with a choice: § Comply with embargo and change aggressive nature § Or strike U. S and attack oil-rich neighbors 5 U. S. knew Japan was going to strike, but where? § Most felt it would be Philippines, not Hawaii 5 December 7, 1941, Japan strikes the Pacific fleet stationed at Hawaii.

Pearl Harbor

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Pearl Harbor from the Cockpit of a Japanese Plane

Pearl Harbor – Dec. 7, 1941 A date which will live in infamy!

FDR Signs the War Declaration

USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor Memorial 2, 887 Americans Dead!

Pacific Theater of Operations

“Tokyo Rose”

Paying for the War

Paying for the War

Paying for the War

Betty Grable: Allied Pinup Girl (She Reminded Men What They Were Fighting For)