"ALL REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR PLUS 3 DEMOCRATS"

KNOX PEACE RESOLUTION PASSED BY SENATE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) In the evening of April 30, 1921, the United States Senate adopted the Knox peace resolution by a vote of 49 to 23.  All Republican votes were in the affirmative along with 3 Democratic votes.

The resolution is scheduled to go to the House of Representatives where "prompt" action is expected.

The Knox proposal would "repeal the war resolution affecting Germany and Austria-Hungary, impound alien enemy property, and reserve to the United States all rights and privileges under the Treaty of Versailles."

In debate on the resolution, which began at 11 a.m., Senator Henry Cabot Lodge* (R-Massachusetts) declared the League of Nations dead and stated that adoption of the Versailles Treaty without the League was not practical.  Senator Borah also attacked the treaty.

*Henry Cabot Lodge (1850-1924) served in the U.S. Senate 1893-1924.  He is best known for his successful crusade against President Wilson's Treaty of Versailles.  HCL earned 4 degrees from Harvard & served as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as Republican leader.

SOURCE

"Senate Votes Peace With Berlin, 49-23," The New York Tribune, May 1, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

   

 

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge

Photo by Pirie MacDonald (1916)

Library of Congress Image

"WAR WITH GERMANY ENDED AS IT BEGAN"

HOUSE FAILS TO OVERRIDE VETO OF KNOX PEACE RESOLUTION

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 28, 1920, the Congress of the United States failed to override President Woodrow Wilson's veto of a peace resolution sponsored by Senator Philander C. Knox* (R-Pennsylvania).  The vote was 219 to 152 falling short of the necessary two-thirds majority.

The House had passed the Knox Peace Resolution on May 21, 1920 but President Wilson vetoed it on May 27, 1920 setting up the vote to override on May 28, 1920.  One of the reasons the resolution did not get enough votes for the override was the concern that the United States would draw criticism from other Allied countries.

After Woodrow Wilson left the White House, the Knox-Porter Peace Resolution passed the Congress and was signed by President Warren G. Harding, in between rounds of golf in Raritan, New Jersey, on July 2, 1921.  This marked the end of U.S. involvement in the world war.

The New York Times wrote...

"War with Germany ended as it began, by Congressional declaration and Executive signature on American soil."

*Philander Chase Knox (1868-1921) was born in Brownsville, PA & graduated from Mt. Union College & was admitted to the bar.  PCK served as Attorney General under McKinley & T. Roosevelt, & Secretary of State under Taft.  He was U.S. Senate 1904-1909 & 1917-1921. 

 SOURCES

"Knox To Reintroduce Peace Resolution; Does Not Expect Action At Coming Session & May Wait Till Harding Takes Office," November 25, 1920, The New York Times.

"Sudden Stroke Takes Life of Philander Knox," The Cornell Daily Sun, Volume XLII, Number 20, 13 October 1921.