The essential elements of the Woodrow Wilson peace program were the idea that there was a need for nations to adopt diplomacy in the resolution of conflict other than relying on war and secret treaties. The Wilson peace program also agitated for the exercise of free trade between nations, and the opening up of seas for access by various powers. Woodrow Wilson also agitates for the independence of Balkan states and the respect of sovereignty among the warring powers. In addition to respect for sovereignty, Woodrow Wilson argued that there was a need for the reduction of the size of the military of warring nations and the weapons that were being used during the war (Wilson 51). Finally the Woodrow Wilson peace program agitated for the creation of the League of Nations which would oversee world peace and stability. Out of the fourteen points that were in the Woodrow Wilson peace program, the idea of free and open peace was included in the final peace treaty (Wilson 117). It was difficult to implement Woodrow Wilson’s peace program and vision because nations were still suspicious of the motives of each other. Nations could not agree to reduce the size of their military and weapons because they were unsure of whether other nations would do the same. Bearing in mind that there is no central authority in the international system that monitors the actions of states, it was difficult for nations to put their relative power in jeopardy. It is important to note that the relative power of many nations is measured in terms of military capacity. For this reason many nations found it difficult to agree with the prepositions that had been proposed in the Woodrow Wilson peace program.
Works Cited
Wilson, Woodrow. The bases of durable peace as voiced by President Wilson. Chicago, Illinois: Union League Club of Chicago, 1918. Print.
Wilson, Woodrow. War addresses of Woodrow Wilson. Boston: Ginn and Company, 1918. Print.
