Answer: b. That the terms of peace should not punish the defeated nations.
President Wilson meant that the terms of peace should not punish the defeated nations by the phrase, "peace without victory". This was used by Wilson during World War I in a speech addressed to the Senate of USA on January 12,1919. He was actually appealing for settlement of the conflicts that were raging between the countries in Europe.
The correct answer is B. Peace without victort meant that the terms of peace should not punish the defeated nations.
In World War I, Wilson's position was eminently peaceful. But he believed that the best way to ensure the non-participation of the United States in the Great War was for it to end as soon as possible. He sent diplomats to Europe repeatedly, in order to achieve rapprochement between the contenders. He never achieved anything, given the absolute conviction of both sides that they would eventually win.
As the war progressed, Wilson's efforts became more evident, and he managed to get closer to his goals, although the definitive step that would have been the convocation of a peace conference was never taken. In his last attempts, the ideas that would mark Wilson's policy at the end of the war were already perceived: a peace without victory, a lasting peace based on the principles of equality among nations. The United States would support, according to Wilson, a peace of this kind, and would collaborate with the rest of the nations in the maintenance of a permanent international organization that would target it.
The German defeat and, above all, the way in which the French and British managed the victory would demonstrate, years later, to what extent Wilson's insistence on avoiding a humiliating peace agreement for the loser was correct.
