American participation and the argument for naval presence

The naval conferences bring other powers into group discussions with the United States, which chose not to join the League of Nations despite Wilson's support for its creation. Dr. Clarke treats that absence and limited military investment as reasons American diplomatic influence fell short of its potential after the First World War. His wider argument is that representatives, ships, and people at the scene give a state a practical role in events. Declarations issued from a distance cannot substitute for that participation in this interpretation. The same principle is applied to small and large powers.