Treaty of Versailles
1. Abstract
2. Cuba in 1919
3. Treaty Questions
4. League of Nations
5. Works Cited
. Location: Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Cuba lies west of the North Atlantic Ocean east of the Gulf of Mexico, south of the Straits of Florida, northwest of the Windward Passage, and northeast of the Yucatan Channel.
.National Motto:"¡Patria o Muerte, Venceremos!
(Translation:"Fatherland or death, we shall overcome")
Abstract
In relations to Cuba’s participation in the fate of the Central Powers for the treaty, Cuba insisted in a war against Germany. Alongside other countries, such as the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy and much more countries, Cuba signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, therefore officially concluding World War I. President Menocal clearly states that their interests are sided with the United States. He also claims that Cuba must not maintain neutralism in the conflict since “the declaration of neutrality would oblige her to treat all belligerents equally, refusing them with equal rigor any access to her ports and imposing on them the same restrictions and prohibitions, which would be in the present case contrary to public sentiment, to the essence of the pacts and moral obligations, moral rather than legal, which bind us to the United States; and would result, lastly, because of our geographical location, in being the cause of innumerable conflicts, the consequences of which it is easy to predict for a friendly and allied nation, and which would prove an inexcusable weakness and condescension for the attitude of implacable aggression unconditionally proclaimed by the Imperial German Government against the rights of all neutral peoples and against the principles of humanity and justice, which constitute the highest note of modern civilization.”("Firstworldwar.com.")
In relations to Cuba’s participation in the fate of the Central Powers for the treaty, Cuba insisted in a war against Germany. Alongside other countries, such as the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy and much more countries, Cuba signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, therefore officially concluding World War I. President Menocal clearly states that their interests are sided with the United States. He also claims that Cuba must not maintain neutralism in the conflict since “the declaration of neutrality would oblige her to treat all belligerents equally, refusing them with equal rigor any access to her ports and imposing on them the same restrictions and prohibitions, which would be in the present case contrary to public sentiment, to the essence of the pacts and moral obligations, moral rather than legal, which bind us to the United States; and would result, lastly, because of our geographical location, in being the cause of innumerable conflicts, the consequences of which it is easy to predict for a friendly and allied nation, and which would prove an inexcusable weakness and condescension for the attitude of implacable aggression unconditionally proclaimed by the Imperial German Government against the rights of all neutral peoples and against the principles of humanity and justice, which constitute the highest note of modern civilization.”("Firstworldwar.com.")
Cuba in 1919
Since most European countries, such as Russia, Germany, and Austria- Hungary, were in conflict with one another, they weren’t quite active like in sugar tarde like Cuba was. During November of 1919, Cuba was sells sugar for 7.98 cents per pound. According to “Our Cuban Colony: A Study in Sugar,” there were 20,484 men and 4,905 women employed in tobacco manufacturing in 1919. During 1918-19, sugar production rose to four million tons. Sugar constructed of 89% of Cuba’s exports. To increase production, planters borrowed money.Therefore, Cuba was economically well off. However, in relations to the United States, since the beginning of 1919, American business began to dominate Cuba. Thirty-nine of the sugar mills that were owned by Americans represented 23% of the sugar mills in Cuba. Although Cubans owned 67 sugar mills and the Spaniards owned around 41, the Cuban-own mills produced fewer amounts of sugar than those of Americans. The slow production of those of Cuba was mostly based off of the fact that Americans owned newer sugar mills, therefore more productive based on technology and location. Therefore, technology wise, Cubans weren’t as modernized than those of the United States. During 1919, President Mario Garcia Menocal was in office since 1913 until 1921. During two years before 1919, President Mario Garcia Menocal decided to go to war against Germany, one day after the United States declared their contribution in the war against Germany. Therefore this decision after the later years of 1919.
Since most European countries, such as Russia, Germany, and Austria- Hungary, were in conflict with one another, they weren’t quite active like in sugar tarde like Cuba was. During November of 1919, Cuba was sells sugar for 7.98 cents per pound. According to “Our Cuban Colony: A Study in Sugar,” there were 20,484 men and 4,905 women employed in tobacco manufacturing in 1919. During 1918-19, sugar production rose to four million tons. Sugar constructed of 89% of Cuba’s exports. To increase production, planters borrowed money.Therefore, Cuba was economically well off. However, in relations to the United States, since the beginning of 1919, American business began to dominate Cuba. Thirty-nine of the sugar mills that were owned by Americans represented 23% of the sugar mills in Cuba. Although Cubans owned 67 sugar mills and the Spaniards owned around 41, the Cuban-own mills produced fewer amounts of sugar than those of Americans. The slow production of those of Cuba was mostly based off of the fact that Americans owned newer sugar mills, therefore more productive based on technology and location. Therefore, technology wise, Cubans weren’t as modernized than those of the United States. During 1919, President Mario Garcia Menocal was in office since 1913 until 1921. During two years before 1919, President Mario Garcia Menocal decided to go to war against Germany, one day after the United States declared their contribution in the war against Germany. Therefore this decision after the later years of 1919.
Treaty Questions:
- Should any European territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be transferred to any other country? Cuba was part of the Allies, as well as that they discovered that Germany was in touch with the Liberals (Cuban Rebels), therefore I think Cuba would want to get rid of the countries.
- Should any European territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be used to create any new country or countries? During the 1912 Race War, a rebel, Parido Independiente de Color wanted yo establish a separate black republic this would offer them land to set their black republic. Therefore, Cuba Cuba would deny.
- Should any overseas territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be transferred to any other country? Since the rebels in the 1912 Race War wanted to set their black republic. Somewhere far from Cuba, the overseas territory would come in use for the rebels.
- What should the new boundary lines for any changes in Europe (provide a map with new national borders to represent the changes suggested)? Since the European countries didn't affect Cuba a lot, they would like for the boundaries to be sent in each country.
- Should heavy industry (capable of producing military equipment) be limited in the former Central Powers? Like claimed before, since the Liberals had putative links with Germany, it would be possible for Germany to pass along military weapons, therefore their heavy industrialization should be limited. However only in weaponry.
- Should all trade and tariff barriers be eliminated? If so, to what extent? Because Cuba was getting money from shipping sugar to great Britain, it would be an issue to eliminate trade. However Germany's trade should be eliminated, and the trade barriers should be raised for Germany.
- Should reparations be paid by the former Central Powers to the victimized Allies? If so, how much and how long should the former Central Powers have to pay these reparations? Throughout the war, Cuba has increased in their sugar production, since European countries were off at war. Therefore they made an increasingly amount of money through sugar. The Central Power having to pay to Cuba wouldn't be necessary, however, Germany should have to pay to those countries whom they harmed or took form.
- Should the former Central Powers be allowed any military capability? Because Cuba was not affected greatly by the German forces, but were still afraid that the Germans might ally with the Liberals, The Central Powers military capability shouldn't be denied, but limited.
- Should all nations have freedom of the seas? Back while shipping with Sweden, Cuba experienced attacks and smuggling form German U-boats. Therefore Germany should not have complete freedom overseas. Considering the other countries, those who have committed any illegal actions overseas, should also be limited to their freedom overseas.
- Should there be world wide disarmament (no standing armies, no offensive weapons, no future production of weapons of war)? Cuba does not agree to worldwide disarmament because there is truly no way one can know for sure that every country has truthfully eliminated their weapons. And even if this was to occur, if one person disobeys and decides to keep their weapons, it would grant more power to that individual.
- Should there be a world wide supervisory body to enforce terms of this treaty and to serve as a permanent peace keeping body? If so, how should it be structured? Considering being under the control of the United States, Cuba believes that it countries were to have worldwide supervisory, it should be structured like the checks and balances. One country has the duty of checking up on another. However each country must be assigned a country that they have little to no connections with. Therefore this would create fair judgement and opinions.
League of Nations
Along side 63 other countries, Cuba joined the League of Nations in 1919 and remained in it. In relations to Cuba’s society stability, in 1924, an open revolt broke out in Santa Clara, Cuba. And in 1929, Julio Antonio Mella, the founder of Cuba’s Communist Party, was assassinated in Mexico. Therefore the society of Cuba was that as stable, but unsteady and rocky. As for government stability, on March 18, in a meeting of the Academy of Science in Havana, Rubén Martínez Villena, leader of the Communist Party, speaks up about his displeasure of the invited guest, Erasmo Regueiferos Boudet, Secretary of State. Villena accuses the government of corruption and walks out of the meeting, followed by 13 others. During this time period many Cubans believed that the government was indeed corrupt. During the Worldwide Depression in 1929-1939, both Germany and Cuba were affected early in the depression. Cuba was mainly affected by the decline in the price of sugar. Before the Worldwide Depression, both Germany and Cuba served as the largest markets with 26 percent and 10 percent of exports. During the World War II, Cuba allied themselves with the United States on December 8 of 1941, when it declared war on Japan. The following three days, they also declared war on Germany and Italy. The United States naval station at Guantanamo Bay served as an important base for protecting Allied shipping in the Caribbean, therefore Cuba’s geographical position at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico, and the country's natural resources, Cuba was an important participant in the World War II.
Along side 63 other countries, Cuba joined the League of Nations in 1919 and remained in it. In relations to Cuba’s society stability, in 1924, an open revolt broke out in Santa Clara, Cuba. And in 1929, Julio Antonio Mella, the founder of Cuba’s Communist Party, was assassinated in Mexico. Therefore the society of Cuba was that as stable, but unsteady and rocky. As for government stability, on March 18, in a meeting of the Academy of Science in Havana, Rubén Martínez Villena, leader of the Communist Party, speaks up about his displeasure of the invited guest, Erasmo Regueiferos Boudet, Secretary of State. Villena accuses the government of corruption and walks out of the meeting, followed by 13 others. During this time period many Cubans believed that the government was indeed corrupt. During the Worldwide Depression in 1929-1939, both Germany and Cuba were affected early in the depression. Cuba was mainly affected by the decline in the price of sugar. Before the Worldwide Depression, both Germany and Cuba served as the largest markets with 26 percent and 10 percent of exports. During the World War II, Cuba allied themselves with the United States on December 8 of 1941, when it declared war on Japan. The following three days, they also declared war on Germany and Italy. The United States naval station at Guantanamo Bay served as an important base for protecting Allied shipping in the Caribbean, therefore Cuba’s geographical position at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico, and the country's natural resources, Cuba was an important participant in the World War II.
Work Cited
"Firstworldwar.com." First World War.com. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. <http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/war_me
"Firstworldwar.com." First World War.com. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. <http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/war_me