Four Policemen
Franklin D. Roosevelt first voiced the idea of a global police force in August 1941 during his initial meeting with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He envisioned a trusteeship led by great powers to oversee smaller nations rather than relying on the League of Nations which he called a poor debating society. By September 1941, the President wrote about creating a new international body that would replace the failed League of Nations. The United States Department of State had paused its post-war planning for most of 1940 and 1941 before issuing a directive in mid-October. Roosevelt remained reluctant to publicly announce his plans because he feared American rejection similar to Woodrow Wilson's struggle with the Senate.
Roosevelt transformed his trusteeship proposal into a plan for four specific nations after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. These four major Allies included the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and the Republic of China. He presented these postwar plans to Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov who arrived in Washington on May 29 to discuss launching a second front. Stalin agreed to support the plan for maintaining peace through enforced disarmament of other countries. Roosevelt believed China was the only Asian nation strong enough to be one of the Policemen since Japan could not be included as an Axis member.
Britain was assigned responsibility for keeping order within its empire and Western Europe while the Soviet Union took charge of Eastern Europe and central Eurasia. China received authority over East Asia and the Western Pacific region where they would police former colonies under international trusteeships. The United States held jurisdiction across the Western Hemisphere as part of this preventive measure against new wars. Countries outside these four powers were required to disarm completely so that no weapons more powerful than a rifle existed anywhere else. This arrangement aimed to prevent infighting among too many policemen while ensuring global stability through unified great power efforts.
Churchill objected strongly to Roosevelt's inclusion of China because he feared American attempts to undermine British colonial holdings in Asia. In October 1942 Churchill told Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden that Republican China represented a faggot vote supporting US interests in liquidating the overseas empire. Eden shared this skepticism noting that China remained unstable during its civil war period. Roosevelt countered by arguing China might become useful for policing Japan in the Far East if given sufficient aid. He believed the combined population of their nations and friends exceeded one billion people despite concerns about Chinese stability.
On New Year's Day 1942 representatives of the Big Four signed what later became known as the Declaration by United Nations. Twenty-two other nations added their signatures the following day to join this initial coalition. A State Department plan drafted in April 1944 kept emphasis on great power solidarity central to Roosevelt's original proposal. The Dumbarton Oaks Conference convened in August 1944 with delegations from all four sponsoring countries to discuss post-war plans. During the San Francisco Conference of 1945 these same four powers served as the only sponsors while signing the Charter of the United Nations.
Liberal internationalists criticized the Four Policemen concept because they wanted power distributed more evenly among all nations rather than concentrated in four hands. The State Department compromised by widening membership eligibility to include all states fighting against Axis powers instead of selecting just a few. Each permanent member received veto power over any resolution contradicting their interests within the new Security Council structure. France eventually joined as the fifth permanent member due to Churchill's insistence when the United Nations officially established itself in late 1945. These concessions significantly reduced the absolute authority originally envisioned for the four great powers.
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Common questions
When did Franklin D. Roosevelt first propose the Four Policemen concept?
Franklin D. Roosevelt first voiced the idea of a global police force in August 1941 during his initial meeting with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Which four nations were selected to serve as the Four Policemen?
The four major Allies included the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and the Republic of China.
What specific regions did each of the Four Policmen control after World War II?
Britain was assigned responsibility for keeping order within its empire and Western Europe while the Soviet Union took charge of Eastern Europe and central Eurasia. China received authority over East Asia and the Western Pacific region where they would police former colonies under international trusteeships. The United States held jurisdiction across the Western Hemisphere as part of this preventive measure against new wars.
Why did Winston Churchill object to including China in the Four Policemen plan?
Churchill objected strongly to Roosevelt's inclusion of China because he feared American attempts to undermine British colonial holdings in Asia.
On what date did representatives of the Big Four sign the Declaration by United Nations?
On New Year's Day 1942 representatives of the Big Four signed what later became known as the Declaration by United Nations.
When did France join the Four Policemen to become a fifth permanent member of the Security Council?
France eventually joined as the fifth permanent member due to Churchill's insistence when the United Nations officially established itself in late 1945.