Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/880

 658 General History of Europe 1188. Attitude in the United States toward the League. There was much difference of opinion in the United States in regard to the wisdom of joining the League of Nations. Many felt that to join the League would be to desert the old policy of isolation and independence, which they felt to be safer than to run the risk of becoming involved in what Washington called "en- tangling alliances." It was urged that there was more danger of war if the United States joined the League than if it kept out. Moreover, many urged that by joining the League the United States would sacrifice some of its sovereignty and right of complete self-determination. On the other hand there was an important group who claimed that the United States could not stand aloof. Ex-President Taft, for instance, said : " The argument that to enter this covenant is a departure from the time-honored policy of avoiding entangling alliances with Europe is an argument that is blind to the changing circumstances in our present situation. The war itself ended that policy. . . . We were driven into it because, with the dependence of all the world upon our resources of food, raw material, and manufacture ; with our closeness, under modern conditions of transportation and communication, to Europe, it was impossible for us to maintain the theory of an isolation that in fact did not exist. It will be equally impossible for us to keep out of another general European war. We are, therefore, just as much interested in stopping such a war as if we were in Europe." Those who have been studying this book will have no more important duty when they become voters than to decide in what way we can best organize to reduce the chances of war if we wish to make an end of war. But are there not many who still be- lieve in war and glorify it, or who are interested in perpetuating it ? III. CONTINUED DISTRESS AND DISORDER 1189. The Russian Situation. Conflict did not stop with the conclusion of treaties of peace at Versailles or the establishment of the League, for wars often breed more wars.