Abstract
In the debate that followed the release of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals in 1944, the US government vigorously promoted the idea of international organization, partly due to fears of a resurgent isolationism. Yet as the debate progressed, it became clear that isolationism was not the main enemy, and concerns that the USA would not engage at all with the UN proved unfounded. Instead, the most active critics of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals were not those who wished to ignore the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, but those who wanted to perfect them. Calls for a more perfect international union came from across the political spectrum and for different reasons. Ultimately, the Roosevelt administration recognized that perfectionism was an issue that threatened the peace process. Fearing a repeat of the rejection of the League of Nations, the Roosevelt administration worked tirelessly to share the message of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals to the American people. But that message was mostly a cautious one, highlighting that while the proposed UN was not perfect, it was the best option for peace.
Highlights
As representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union and China met at Dumbarton Oaks in the late summer of 1944 to draw up plans for a new international organization, the US government was already thinking about how to sell the organization to the American people
There was no great debate as the American people accepted the need to join the new international organization
The aim was to spread the word as widely as possible and educate the American people about the specific Dumbarton Oaks proposals and the broader need for the United States to seize a second chance at internationalism
Summary
As representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union and China met at Dumbarton Oaks in the late summer of 1944 to draw up plans for a new international organization, the US government was already thinking about how to sell the organization to the American people. It had not been created solely to promote the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, the timing of its creation meant that the opportunity for the Division ‘to build up a public support for the United Nations organization’ was too good to miss.[8]
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