MARCO MUGNAINI

Gli Stati americani e la Società delle Nazioni: un profilo storico

N. 198

Summary — In this article is outlined a sketch on the relations that occurred between the American States and the League of Nations. The study starts from the historiographical debate on the League, and particularly if the League was based on the London Pact of 1915 or if it was the outcome of Wilson’s New Diplomacy. A historiographical node that is connected with the defeat of wilsonism in 1919-1920, and the withdrawal of the United States from the League.

But the aim of this essay is also to look beyond. From this perspective, the variety American States positions emerges, that was already perceivable from the origins of the League. It was also the outcome of the different positions held from the American States during the conflict, and the different approaches to consider the diplomatic heritage of First World War.

Then the evolution of the foreign policies of each American State is examined (particularly United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile). But always considering the role of Pan American option, which was perceived sometimes as complementary and often as alternative in comparison with the League. In this sense, the analysis also consents to catch a glimpse of the complex interlacing between inter-American system and Europe of Versailles: from the period of illusion during 1920s, to the diplomatic consequences of Great Depression. Consequences that in the years 1930-1932 reopened the debate about Euro-American relations, while the tensions in the American continent were increasing

During the first half of 1930s the Versailles system and his alliances were suffered big blows in Asia and Europe. However they still seemed be able to balance and to exercise a sort of attraction, and particularly the Hispano American States were attracted, even those that stayed outside the League in the Twenties. But it was another illusion. In fact, in front of the recurrent European crises in the second half of Thirties, the American States manifested their worries and a tendency to mark distance from the policy of the League (that besides it had become floating and uncertain). The decline of the League system took place contemporaneously to the renewal of confidence in the inter-American relations, which was fostered by the Good Neighbour Diplomacy of Roosevelt’s administrations. Those policies will be verified in the imminent Second World War.