Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair?
> As soon as the First World War came to an end in November 1918, plans were immediately made
for a peace conference to take place in Paris (it was a strategic place to show that France is strong
despite all the damage caused by the war) during 1919. This conference produced several peace
treaties that are referred to collectively as the Versailles Settlement.
> Versailles Settlement = term to describe the entire peace settlement between 1919-23. Treaty of
Versailles = part of the Versailles Settlement in which the terms of the peace for Germany were
discussed.
> Versailles Settlement was the result of discussions held between the victorious countries.
> Every country wanted a peace settlement that would last and prevent a repeat of the First World
War.
The problem was that this could be achieved in a variety of ways. This led to strong disagreement
among the peacemakers on several key issues, such how the defeated countries should be punished,
or the victorious countries rewarded. Disagreement led to compromise with the result that the
Versailles Settlement, and especially the Treaty of Versailles, soon became the focus of fierce
criticism and debate.
What were the motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles?
> The Paris Peace Conference was attended by 32 states representing more than two-thirds of the
world's population. Soviet Russia was not invited following the Bolshevik Revolution of October
1917 and the defeated powers were also excluded from the negotiations.
> The main peacemakers were the countries primarily responsible for the defeat of Germany and its
allies: France, Italy, the United States, Britain, and Japan.
The major players were France, the United States, and Britain. Italy left the conference because it
felt offended for not having received what was promised.
> These countries were represented by Prime Minister Clemenceau, President Wilson, and Prime
Minister Lloyd George respectively. The aims and motives of these three statesmen, the "Big
Three", were to determine the nature of the peace settlement.
FRANCE
George Clemenceau (1841-1929) “The Tiger”
Pre-political career = medical doctor, journalist, schoolteacher, newspaper proprietor
Political positions = Minister of the Interior (1906); prime Minister of France (1906-9 and
1917-20) President of the Paris Peace Conference (1919-20)
Character and outlook = hard-headed, tough, uncompromising politician. Unforgiving attitude
towards Germany. Wanted a harsh peace to be imposed on Germany.
French Prime Minister George Clemenceau's primary concern at Paris was to achieve a peace that
would ensure the future security of France.
He thought that if Germany was sufficiently weakened it would be unable to threaten the peace of
Europe again.
, There were several reasons why Clemenceau thought that his country was open to future attack
across its eastern frontier:
> France shared a common border with Germany, which was not defined by any major natural
frontier.
> The invasion of France in August 1914 by the Germans was the second time in 50 years. And on
the first invasion France had lost the province of Alsace - Lorraine.
> France had made a much greater sacrifice during the war than the USA and Britain so there was a
national desire for revenge against Germany. This increased even more when at the final stages of
the war Germany damaged and destroyed mines, bridges, railways, small towns, and villages in
north-east France.
Clemenceau went into the peace conference with a series of demand that would weaken Germany
such as:
> Permanent disarmament of most of the Germany’s army, navy, and air force.
> Very high level of reparations with a define figure to be named in the treaty.
> The return of Alsace - Lorraine to France.
> Significant portions of Germany’s colonies to be handed to France.
> The Rhineland area to be formed into an independent state (no more common border)
> Saar Basin to be transferred to France.
> Germany broken up in a collection of smaller states (recommended by the President Poincaré).
THE UNITED STATES
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)
Pre-political career = Lawyer, academic (political science), President of Princeton University.
Political career = Govern of New Jersey (1911-13); President of the United States (1913-21).
Character and outlook = took America into the First World War to make the world “safe for
democracy”. Devised the Fourteen points which he hoped would form the basis for a peace
settlement.
Main inspiration behind the League of Nations.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
1 No more secret treaties No
2 Free navigation of the seas in peacetime and wartime No
3 Removal of economic trade and barriers No
4 Reduction of armaments for all countries No
5 Impartial settlement of colonial disputes considering of both the colonial population No
and the governing countries.
6 German troops to leave Russia Yes
7 Independence for Belgium Yes
8 Return of Alsace - Lorraine to France Yes
9 Readjustment of Italian frontiers in line with nationality Not really
10 Self - determination for people of Austria Hungary Yes
11 Evacuation and restoration of invaded Balkan countries Yes
12 Self - determination for peoples in the Turkish Empire Yes
13 Establishment of an independent Poland with access to the sea Yes
> As soon as the First World War came to an end in November 1918, plans were immediately made
for a peace conference to take place in Paris (it was a strategic place to show that France is strong
despite all the damage caused by the war) during 1919. This conference produced several peace
treaties that are referred to collectively as the Versailles Settlement.
> Versailles Settlement = term to describe the entire peace settlement between 1919-23. Treaty of
Versailles = part of the Versailles Settlement in which the terms of the peace for Germany were
discussed.
> Versailles Settlement was the result of discussions held between the victorious countries.
> Every country wanted a peace settlement that would last and prevent a repeat of the First World
War.
The problem was that this could be achieved in a variety of ways. This led to strong disagreement
among the peacemakers on several key issues, such how the defeated countries should be punished,
or the victorious countries rewarded. Disagreement led to compromise with the result that the
Versailles Settlement, and especially the Treaty of Versailles, soon became the focus of fierce
criticism and debate.
What were the motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles?
> The Paris Peace Conference was attended by 32 states representing more than two-thirds of the
world's population. Soviet Russia was not invited following the Bolshevik Revolution of October
1917 and the defeated powers were also excluded from the negotiations.
> The main peacemakers were the countries primarily responsible for the defeat of Germany and its
allies: France, Italy, the United States, Britain, and Japan.
The major players were France, the United States, and Britain. Italy left the conference because it
felt offended for not having received what was promised.
> These countries were represented by Prime Minister Clemenceau, President Wilson, and Prime
Minister Lloyd George respectively. The aims and motives of these three statesmen, the "Big
Three", were to determine the nature of the peace settlement.
FRANCE
George Clemenceau (1841-1929) “The Tiger”
Pre-political career = medical doctor, journalist, schoolteacher, newspaper proprietor
Political positions = Minister of the Interior (1906); prime Minister of France (1906-9 and
1917-20) President of the Paris Peace Conference (1919-20)
Character and outlook = hard-headed, tough, uncompromising politician. Unforgiving attitude
towards Germany. Wanted a harsh peace to be imposed on Germany.
French Prime Minister George Clemenceau's primary concern at Paris was to achieve a peace that
would ensure the future security of France.
He thought that if Germany was sufficiently weakened it would be unable to threaten the peace of
Europe again.
, There were several reasons why Clemenceau thought that his country was open to future attack
across its eastern frontier:
> France shared a common border with Germany, which was not defined by any major natural
frontier.
> The invasion of France in August 1914 by the Germans was the second time in 50 years. And on
the first invasion France had lost the province of Alsace - Lorraine.
> France had made a much greater sacrifice during the war than the USA and Britain so there was a
national desire for revenge against Germany. This increased even more when at the final stages of
the war Germany damaged and destroyed mines, bridges, railways, small towns, and villages in
north-east France.
Clemenceau went into the peace conference with a series of demand that would weaken Germany
such as:
> Permanent disarmament of most of the Germany’s army, navy, and air force.
> Very high level of reparations with a define figure to be named in the treaty.
> The return of Alsace - Lorraine to France.
> Significant portions of Germany’s colonies to be handed to France.
> The Rhineland area to be formed into an independent state (no more common border)
> Saar Basin to be transferred to France.
> Germany broken up in a collection of smaller states (recommended by the President Poincaré).
THE UNITED STATES
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)
Pre-political career = Lawyer, academic (political science), President of Princeton University.
Political career = Govern of New Jersey (1911-13); President of the United States (1913-21).
Character and outlook = took America into the First World War to make the world “safe for
democracy”. Devised the Fourteen points which he hoped would form the basis for a peace
settlement.
Main inspiration behind the League of Nations.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
1 No more secret treaties No
2 Free navigation of the seas in peacetime and wartime No
3 Removal of economic trade and barriers No
4 Reduction of armaments for all countries No
5 Impartial settlement of colonial disputes considering of both the colonial population No
and the governing countries.
6 German troops to leave Russia Yes
7 Independence for Belgium Yes
8 Return of Alsace - Lorraine to France Yes
9 Readjustment of Italian frontiers in line with nationality Not really
10 Self - determination for people of Austria Hungary Yes
11 Evacuation and restoration of invaded Balkan countries Yes
12 Self - determination for peoples in the Turkish Empire Yes
13 Establishment of an independent Poland with access to the sea Yes
