Prior to World War I (1914–18), the United States and France were allies (joined forces). That changed after the war for a number of reasons,
including the fact that the United States continued to try to collect the
full amount of war debt incurred by France.
France’s foreign minister, Aristide Briand (1862–1932), tried to repair his country’s relationship with the United States. Toward this effort,
Briand wrote an open letter to the American public suggesting that the
two countries sign a treaty agreeing to outlaw war between them.
Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933; served 1923–29) was president of
the United States at the time, and he did not like the idea of another
country trying to force him into a response where diplomatic issues were concerned. He gave Briand no response. However, a few weeks later,
Columbia University president Nicholas Murray Butler (1862–1947),
sent his own, similar letter to Coolidge, which the New York Times published. Media across the nation began a campaign to outlaw war.
The American public liked the idea of not using war to solve conflicts. Petitions were circulated, and their more than two million signatures increased the pressure on the government. Secretary of State Frank
B. Kellogg (1856–1937) agreed that a pact would have its advantages,
but he wanted to include many nations in the treaty.
Signed in August 1928 by fifteen nations, the Kellogg-Briand Pact
outlawed war as an instrument of national policy. More than sixty nations joined the treaty in the months following its passage. The pact had
its shortcomings. The term “war” was generally interpreted to mean that
the countries could not wage war; each believed it could still defend itself if attacked. The treaty contained no expiration date, nor did it include a provision for amending the agreement at any point in time.
The pact had its share of skeptics, who believed it was too idealistic
to be of any real use. They turned out to be correct when World War II
(1939–45) broke out. Though intentions of the treaty were good, the
Kellogg-Briand Pact actually may have been harmful because officials
sometimes delayed taking action against aggressors in hopes the terms of the treaty would be honored.