9781422285497

World War I and the League of Nations As World War I drew to a close in 1918, leaders on both sides were left to ponder the vast destructive power of war on a global scale. The loss of human life, as well as the loss of cities, bridges, and crops, made the total costs of such conflict nearly incalculable. The idea of creating an international body that could prevent future conflicts through negotiation was initially proposed by British foreign secretary Edward Grey, though the Democratic U.S.presidentWoodrowWilson and his adviser Colonel Edward M. House ardently supported it as a means of avoiding the catastrophic loss of life seen inWorldWar I.

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Chapter One