# Wilson Violation of Democratic Voting

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span>**Racial Equality Proposal**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span>[Japanese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language "Japanese language")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: 人種的差別撤廃提案; lit. "Proposal to abolish racial discrimination") was an amendment to the </span>[Treaty of Versailles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles "Treaty of Versailles")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> that was considered at the 1919 </span>[Paris Peace Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Conference,_1919 "Paris Peace Conference, 1919").

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Though it was broadly supported, the proposal did not become part of the treaty, largely because of opposition by the </span>[United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the </span>[dominions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion "Dominion")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the </span>[British Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire "British Empire")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Delegation, namely </span>[Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia "Australia")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span>[Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada "Canada")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span>[New Zealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_of_New_Zealand "Dominion of New Zealand").[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[1\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-1)

<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">After the end of</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[seclusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku "Sakoku")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">in the 1850s, Japan signed</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[unequal treaties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unequal_treaty "Unequal treaty")<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, the so-called</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Ansei Treaties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansei_Treaties "Ansei Treaties")<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, but soon came to demand equal status with the Western powers. Correcting that inequality became the most urgent international issue of the Meiji government. In that context, the Japanese delegation to the Paris peace conference proposed the clause in the</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Covenant of the League of Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_of_the_League_of_Nations "Covenant of the League of Nations")<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. The first draft was presented to the League of Nations Commission on 13 February as an amendment to Article 21:</span>

> <span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The equality of nations being a basic principle of the League of Nations, the High Contracting Parties agree to accord as soon as possible to all alien nationals of states, members of the League, equal and just treatment in every respect making no distinction, either in law or in fact, on account of their race or nationality.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In a speech, the Japanese diplomat</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Makino Nobuaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makino_Nobuaki "Makino Nobuaki")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">stated that during the war men of different races had fought together on the</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Allied](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_I "Allies of World War I")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">side, leading to say: "A common bond of sympathy and gratitude has been established to an extent never before experienced."</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[8\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003318-8)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Japanese delegation had not realized the full ramifications of their proposal since its adoption would have challenged aspects of the established norms of the day's Western-dominated international system, which involved the colonial rule over non-white people. The intention of the Japanese was to secure equality of their nationals and the equality for members of the League of Nations,</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[9\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEShimazu1998114-9)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">but a universalist meaning and implication of the proposal became attached to it within the delegation, which drove its contentiousness at the conference.</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[10\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEShimazu1998115-10)

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">After Makino's speech, </span>[Lord Cecil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cecil,_1st_Viscount_Cecil_of_Chelwood "Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> stated that the Japanese proposal was a very controversial one and he suggested that perhaps the matter was so controversial that it should not be discussed at all.</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[8\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003318-8)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Greek Prime Minister </span>[Eleftherios Venizelos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleftherios_Venizelos "Eleftherios Venizelos")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> also suggested that a clause banning religious discrimination should also be removed since that was also a very controversial matter.</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[8\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003318-8)

Cecil removed all references to clauses that forbade racial and religious discrimination from the text of the peace treaty, but the Japanese made it clear that they would seek to have the clause restored.[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[8\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003318-8)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> By then, the clause was beginning to draw widespread public attention. Demonstrations in Japan demanded the end of the "badge of shame" as policies to exclude Japanese immigration in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand received much attention in the Japanese media.</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[8\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003318-8)

In the United States, the clause received much negative media coverage on the West Coast.[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[8\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003318-8)

[Makino Nobuaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makino_Nobuaki "Makino Nobuaki")<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, the career diplomat who headed the Japanese delegation, then announced at a press conference: "We are not too proud to fight but we are too proud to accept a place of admitted inferiority in dealing with one or more of the associated nations. We want nothing but simple justice."</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[13\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-PaulGordonLauren1988p90a-13)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">France declared its support for the proposal since the French position had always been that the French language and culture was a "civilizing" force open to all regardless of skin color.</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[12\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003319-12)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">British Prime Minister</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[David Lloyd George](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lloyd_George "David Lloyd George")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">found himself in an awkward situation since Britain had signed an alliance with Japan in 1902, but he also wanted to hold the</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[British Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire "British Empire")<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">'s delegation together.</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[12\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003319-12)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">South African Prime Minister General</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Jan Smuts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts "Jan Smuts")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">and Canadian Prime Minister Sir</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Robert Borden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Borden "Robert Borden")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">tried to work out a compromise by visiting Makino and</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Chinda Sutemi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinda_Sutemi "Chinda Sutemi")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">and Hughes, serving as mediators.</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[12\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003319-12)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Borden and Smuts were able to arrange a meeting between Makino, Chinda, and Hughes, which ended badly. The Japanese diplomats wrote that Hughes was a vulgar "peasant" who was loud and obnoxious, and Hughes complained that the Japanese had been "beslobbering me with genuflexions and obsequious deference."</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[12\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003319-12)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">However, Borden and Smuts were able to persuade Hughes to accept the clause if it was declared that it did not affect immigration.</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[12\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003319-12)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Makino and Chinda then rejected the compromise.</span>[<sup style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[12\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMacMillan2003319-12)

On April 11, 1919, the commission held a final session.[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[14\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTELauren198890-14)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Makino stated the Japanese plea for human rights and racial equality.</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[15\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTELauren198891-15)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> The British representative Robert Cecil spoke for the British Empire and addressed opposition to the proposal.</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[16\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTELauren198891%E2%80%9392-16)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Italian Prime Minister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Prime_Minister "Italian Prime Minister")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Vittorio Orlando](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vittorio_Orlando "Vittorio Orlando")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> spoke in favor of the statement on </span>[human rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights "Human rights").[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[17\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTELauren198892-17)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[French Senator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_of_France "Senate of France")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[Léon Bourgeois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Bourgeois "Léon Bourgeois")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> urged its adoption and stated that it would be impossible to reject the proposal, which embodied "an indisputable principle of justice."</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[18\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-PaulGordonLauren1988p92b-18)

#### Vote

The proposal received a majority vote on the day,[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[14\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTELauren198890-14)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> with 11 of the 17 delegates present voted in favor of its amendment to the charter, and no negative vote was taken:</span>

- [Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan "Empire of Japan")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) Yes</span>
- [France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Third_Republic "French Third Republic")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) Yes</span>
- [Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Italy "Kingdom of Italy")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) Yes</span>
- [Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Brazilian_Republic "First Brazilian Republic")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1) Yes</span>
- [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_(1912%E2%80%931949) "Republic of China (1912–1949)")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1) Yes</span>
- [Greece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Greece "Kingdom of Greece")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1) Yes</span>
- [Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Serbia "Kingdom of Serbia")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1) Yes</span>
- [Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia "Czechoslovakia")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1) Yes</span>

Total: 11 Yes

- [British Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire "British Empire")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) – Not Registered</span>
- [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) – Not Registered</span>
- [Portugal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Portuguese_Republic "First Portuguese Republic")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1) – Not Registered</span>
- [Romania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Romania "Kingdom of Romania")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1) – Not Registered</span>
- [Belgium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_colonial_empire "Belgian colonial empire")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (2) – Absent</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[19\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEShimazu199830%E2%80%9331-19)

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The chairman, </span>[Woodrow Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson "Woodrow Wilson"), overturned it by saying that although the proposal had been approved by a clear majority, the particular matter had strong opposition manifest itself (despite the lack of any actual votes against the proposal[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[19\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTEShimazu199830%E2%80%9331-19)) and that on this issue, a unanimous vote would be required.[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[20\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTETemperley1924352-20)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> French delegate </span>[Ferdinand Larnaude](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ferdinand_Larnaude&action=edit&redlink=1 "Ferdinand Larnaude (page does not exist)")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> \[</span>[la](https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinandus_Larnaude "la:Ferdinandus Larnaude")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span>[sv](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernand_Larnaude "sv:Fernand Larnaude")\] immediately stated that "a majority had voted for the amendment."[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[21\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-PaulGordonLauren1988p93-21)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Meanwhile, the Japanese delegation wanted the transcript to show that a clear majority had been voted for the amendment.</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[21\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-PaulGordonLauren1988p93-21)

#### <sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">Aftermath</span></sup>

Cecil felt that British support for the League of Nations was far more important than the clause. The Japanese media fully covered the progress of the conference, which led to the alienation of public opinion towards the US and would foreshadow later, broader conflicts.

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In the United States, </span>[racial riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Summer_of_1919 "Red Summer of 1919")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> resulted from deliberate inaction.</span>[<sup><span class="editor-theme-superscript">\[26\]</span></sup>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_Equality_Proposal#cite_note-FOOTNOTELauren198899-26)

<p class="callout success"><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The international mood had changed so dramatically by 1945, that the contentious point of racial equality would be incorporated into that year's</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>[United Nations Charter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Charter "United Nations Charter")<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">as a fundamental principle of international justice.</span></p>