The Kellogg-Briand Pact, signed in 1928, was an international treaty aimed at outlawing war as a means of resolving disputes between nations. Initiated by U.S. Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg and French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand, the pact was signed by numerous countries, reflecting a collective desire for peace following the devastation of World War I. Although it ultimately failed to prevent future conflicts, it represented a significant step towards international diplomacy and the promotion of peaceful coexistence.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact, while primarily a geopolitical agreement, resonated in the literary world as poets like W.H. Auden and others explored themes of peace and disillusionment in their works. This idealistic approach to pacifism influenced a wave of anti-war poetry during the tumultuous interwar years.