Questions 1-11 are based on the following
passage.
Passage 1 is excerpted from Senator William E. Borah, “Speech to the Senate,” delivered in 1919. Passage 2 is excerpted from an editorial in the Magyar Tribune, “Shall There Be a League of Nations?” Originally published in 1920. In the aftermath of World War I (1914-1918), United States President Woodrow Wilson sought to create an international governing body, called the League of Nations, that would come together to solve disputes between nations openly and peacefully.
Passage 1
Mr. President, after Mr. Lincoln had been elected
President, before he assumed the duties of the office and at
the time when all indications were to the effect that we
would soon be in the midst of civil strife, a friend from the
5 city of Washington wrote him for instructions. Mr. Lincoln
wrote back in a single line, "Entertain no compromise;
have none of it." That states the position I occupy at this
time and which I have in my humble way occupied from
10 the first contention in regard to this proposal of entering
the League of Nations.
Have we not been told day by day for the last nine
months that the Senate of the United States, a coordinate
part of the treaty-making power, should accept this league
as it was written because the wise men sitting in
15 Versailles* had so written it, and has not every possible
influence and every source of power in public opinion been
organized and directed against the Senate to compel it to
do that thing?
What is the result of all this? We are in the midst of all
20 the affairs of Europe. We have joined in alliance with all
European concerns. We have joined in alliance with all the
European nations which have thus far joined the league,
and all nations which may be admitted to the league. We
are sitting there dabbling in their affairs and intermeddling
25 in their concerns. In other words, Mr. President–and this
comes to the question which is fundamental with me–we
have forfeited and surrendered, once and for all, the great
policy of "no entangling alliances" upon which the strength
of this Republic has been founded for 150 years.
Passage 2
In Europe, there is no controversy about the League of
Nations. Each nation can see the necessity of such an
organization, in fact, they are looking forward to its
activities with high hopes, as an organization being capable
34 of preventing a recurrence of another bloody war such as
we have just gone through, and one that has upset Europe
and the entire world.
The nations that lost the war, Germany, Hungary,
Bulgaria, and Turkey, are the only nations of Europe who
39 cannot be members at the present time, due to the fact
that the other nations do not want them to have anything
to do with the conferences of the League, and this
revolutionary move. This is considered as a punishment to
the above named nations.
44 In a very short time these nations will also be admitted
as members of the League. Russia is not a member yet,
either, because Russia seems to be preparing for war
against the whole world, though it is only a matter of time
before Russia will join the League, even though its political
49 views will be entirely different from the rest of the world.
It is here the controversy lies. Maybe, it is because there
is nothing else to discuss, or on which the Republicans and
Democrats can argue, maybe, it is because if America joins
the League it will mean radical changes in America's
54 foreign and domestic policies.
The United States has kept away from serious
disagreements that have come up between European
countries, but the World War thrust us into European
politics. Due to industrial and economic conditions, the
59 United States can no longer remain isolated from Europe.
Europe needs America, and America needs Europe.
Products of the United States are constantly being
exchanged for products manufactured in Europe,
thereby cementing the tie between the two continents.
64 The entire world has made great advances in the field of
contacting one another, since the invention of the steam
locomotive, steam boat, and telephone. These inventions
have brought the entire world closer together, and new
ideas have developed.
69 So now the nations throughout the world are beginning
to feel as though they should all unite into one solid
organization, which will insure the world of everlasting
peace, without interference from any one particular nation.
This is the idea that gave birth to the League of Nations.
74 There are some who doubt whether the League will live
up to these expectations of wiping war from the face of the
earth. Of course, this is all guess work, but the idea seems
like a good one and we believe it is worth trying.
* a city in France where the primary treaty ending World War I was signed