意外产生的超级大国(6)

Prompted at least somewhat by Lenin's no peace no war doctrine,

Wilson supported moderate treatment for the central powers if and when they surrendered.

His 14th point called for the creation of an international organization devoted to maintaining world peace, the future League of Nations.

There is some evidence that the hope of a moderate peace brought the central powers to the negotiation table sooner rather than later.

When the armistice finally came on November 11th 1918, it was just taken for granted the 14 points would be the basis of a peace treaty.

Yet when the treaty negotiations began in Versailles France, it turned out Britain and France wanted to punish Germany after all.

The consequences of this Versailles Treaty would be dire indeed.

Since the US Senate bogged at signing this clearly punitive treaty, the US instead signed separate treaties with Germany and Germany's Allies.

The Senate also refused to enter the newly created League of Nations on Wilson's terms.

Wilson rejected the Senate's compromise proposal, blocking America's entry into the League of Nations for good.