Week Six 

Neutrals and New Players

The lot of neutral nations in a world of warring powers is a fortunate yet trying one.  Many eventually cannot avoid involvement.  The motives, the methods, the actions, the often strained relations with nations which believe they are fighting for their lives, and, finally, the path to involvement of countries neutral between 1915 and 1917, are examined in this segment.

Assigned Readings:
G. J. Meyer, A WORLD UNDONE, Part Five: 1917 - Things Fall Apart, pp. 471-588

Levin, introduction and chapter one
Wilson's 19 August 1914 declaration of United States neutrality
The Political Development of United States' policy on neutrality
Wilson's change in attitude on War Loans
Wilson's first warning to Germany concerning naval activity (February, 1915)
German discussions on Submarine warfare (August 1916)
Final German U-boat_Conference of January 9,_1917.
The Zimmerman Note (January, 1917)
President Wilson's War Message to Congress (April 2, 1917)

The careful neutrals - the neutral Dutch Army
The Italian Government explains why it remained neutral (December 5, 1915)
The secret agreement of the Treaty of London (1915)
Prime Minister Salandra's declaration of war on the Central Powers (May 23, 1915)

See Also:
War on the Italian Front


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Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania