The 1928 Kellogg–Briand Peace Pact - or the "World Peace Act" - was developed in an attempt to forever renounce war. The pact was built upon shaky foundations, however, as it contained no sanctions for how to prevent such war. The pact had also been developed to prevent American involvement in foreign alliances and affairs. The Senate approved the treaty with an enormous approval rate - 85–1 - and these senators did not add any reservation to the treaty believing that the treaty should allow "open-interpretation" and infringe upon the American citizen's rights. By doing so, the pact did not call for blatant belligerence, but did claim that fighting can occur if it is under self defense. In terms of practicality, the Kellogg–Briand Pact did not succeed in preventing war from ever occuring again, much less in contributing to world peace. For instance, it was unable to stop the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in 1935, and the German and Soviet Union invasions of Poland. However, it was successful in creating international law against threats and international crises. The pact continues to serve as international law for issues such as crime against peace - the Nuremberg Trials sentenced several German belligerants. After World War II, it is deemed necessary that nations must utilize their militaries only if they need self defense. The pact also prohibits the annexation of a territory and tries to allow for equality between nations.
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