"The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies." — Treaty of Versailles, Article 231 (1919)
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and the "reservationists" objected to the Treaty primarily because
- A
it failed to annex German colonies for the United States
- B
the war-guilt clause was too lenient on Germany
- Ccheck_circle
Article X of the League Covenant might commit U.S. forces without congressional approval
- D
it imposed an international income tax
Explanation
Lodge's reservations centered on protecting U.S. sovereignty—particularly congressional war powers under Article X—rather than on Article 231 itself.