eutrality Prior to Entry Into the First World War
Two Hague Peace Conferences were held--1899 and 1907 (Palmer, 1979, p. 147). Little was achieved toward disarmament, but the permanent Court of Arbitration was established at the Hague in 1901 as an outcome of the 1899 conference (Palmer, 1979, p. 148). The second Hague Peace Conference convened in 1907, and produced a series of conventions designed to reduce the horrors of war (Palmer, 1979, p. 348).
Article XIII of the Covenant of the League of Nations was based on Article XIII of the Hague Peace Conference of 1907. This article stipulated that member nations agree to summit to arbitration or judicial settlement any dispute suitable for such treatment, and to carry out in good faith any judgment so rendered (Landman and Wender, 1963, p. 46).
Article XVI held that, should a nation go to war without first resorting to arbitration or the World Court, all other member nations agree immediately to subject to the severance of all trade and financial relations (Landman and Wender, 1963, pp. 46-47). Should the economic boycott fail, the Council of the League of Nations was authorized to recommend to member nations what armaments the member nations are to contribute to punish the recalcitrant nation. The latter decision required a unanimous vote of the Council with the nations involved in the conflict excluded from voting (Landman and Wender, 1963, p. 47).
Based on the Hague Conventions concluded in 1907, President Taft negotiated treaties with both Britain and France committing the United States and those countries to arbitration or judicial action to settle disputes (Morison, 1972, p. 160). The proposed treaties were withdrawn from Senate consideration; however, following violent opposition and amendment action by Irish-Americans and German-Americans who were clamoring for war against the United Kingdom (Morison, 1972, p. 160).
Another issue ...