Foes in the senate argued that Article X would impair the sovereignty of the U.S. By committing the nation to use its armed forces to protect the existing boundaries of all members of the League.

On November 19, 1919, the U.S. Senate, after much action on the part of the President via speaking tours, voted on the treaty. The Committee on Foreign Relations, headed by Lodge, proposed forty-five amendments and a number of reservations. The senate, however, rejected all of the amendments but approved one reservation that the U.S. assume no obligation to use its armed forces in the service of the League unless the action was approved by a joint resolution of Congress. A Republican motion to ratify with reservations was defeated by a vote of 39 to 55 with most Democrats voting in the negative; also, a Democratic resolution to ratify failed by a vote of 38 to...
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