VERSAILLES TREATY

Plenipotentiaries: delegates with full power to represent their

states

There were over 30 allied and associated states in Paris.

Bigger peace making than ever before

4th October 1918, Germans asked for peace based on Wilson’s 14

points. Exuded liberal philosophy and values.

Armistice was a german surrender

Views of Wilsonian Peace:

Concerns Outcomes
G Didn’t like the idea of Germany’s naval power was
B freedom destroyed
of seas. Feared loss of
control

demands for reparations and

trials

F Getting Alsace Lorraine Back Got it back

R
getting an overwhelming Germany’s naval fleet was
position against Germany destroyed at Scapa flow

IT Feared that their border Italy’s demands were not

“along
recognisable lines of
nationality wouldn’t entitle
them
to the land they wanted
accepted. They were basically
ignored and were the laughing
stock of the lot 

War didn’t solve the problems that caused it, it had just changed
their form and magnitude (like the nationalities problem) In
addition, who would pay for the damages? The wartime promises,
the threat of revolution, the collapse of the 4 powers under the
effect of the war added complicity to the peace making. However, at
least the war managed to give an opportunity to propose, or impose
solutions to these problems.
Chapter 2:
Very badly organised. Such chaos, until March 1919 and the council
of four . Then everything happened at once. PARADOX.

CONFERENCE started on 18th January 1919

Problems:
1. Who should attend?
2. Should everyone be equal?
3. Time frame?
4. Negotiation or imposed?$
5. Where?
(5) Wilson and Lloyd George wanted Geneva, but feared
revolutionary developments. Paris was better, lots of
democratic and administrative capacity

Took about three months for the treaty to start to be formed.

First idea, from the French was to dictate a preliminary peace to the
Germans. Then, their fate would be discussed.

Wilson was an “unknown quantity” Clemenceau was not happy at

his apathy for the French situation and Lloyd george was
disappointed at his lack of recognition for the British victory.

Started off with the council of ten: British, French, Italian Prime+
foreign ministers, American president and secretary of state + M.
Matsui, Viscount Chinda of Japan.

The ten were aware of the fact that the smaller powers would be
resentful. Solution: the Plenary Conferences, where ALL
RECOGNISED ALLIED COUNTRIES were admitted.

14th February, the LEAGUE OF NATIONS draft was submitted.

Approved on the 28th of April.

In March 1919, it was realised that there wasn’t enough confidence

and intimacy to discuss delicate matters such as the shaping of
Europe. The Council of Ten had not lacked diligence, it had met 72
times and created 58 subcommittees, it just wasn’t the right peace
making mechanism!

On march 7th 1919, the council of 4 finally met. This was Of Wilson,
Clemenceau Lloyd George and Orlando (excluded due to language
barrier, and also the other three doubted Italy’s right to be there).
He then later withdrew from meeting from 21 April to 7 may over
the Fiume demands on the Adriatic sea.
PROBLEMS Clemenceau, 77 years old, proud of his country, but
distrustful of compatriots. Said little, but what he said
dominated over everything.
Lloyd George: skilful, relied on his quick mind instead of his
knowledge.
Wilson, disappointing high expectations, such of Keynes, who quit in
disgust.

Count What they wanted Criticisms

ry
Britain Germany should pay up, until
the generation responsible
for the war passed
Germany must be allowed
equal access to the world
economy. You couldn’t “We
cannot cripple her and
expect her to pay”
French:
the French were more
concerned about the
German disarmament,
since they border the
country, whilst England
benefits from the channel.

Favoured an all round

limitation of armament,
although accepted that, at
first, the Germans must
demilitarise.

The Germans must enforce

their side of the treaty

France Reduce Germany to cinders, Wilson and Lloyd George

ensuring they could never
threaten France again!
Be compensated for their
losses (Saarland)
Recover Alsace Lorraine and
the Rhines
denied the Rhine
proposition, but gave them
strategic bridgeheads on
the right bank for at least
15 years. Also, the
permanent demilitarisation
of the left bank
As to Saarland, to exploit
its mineral resources would
mean giving it to France,
which Wilson wouldn’t
accept, it went against self-
determination. Solution:
French got all incomes for
 15 years, and it was
governed by the league of
nations. After, the ppl could
decide to be German or not

Reparations were the hardest to settle. It revolved around the

following:
1. What was Germany’s liability?
2. How much could it afford to pay?
3. How should it pay?
4. For how long should it pay?

Don’t forget that the Germans deliberately sabotaged equipment in

retreating.

18th of April, the French invited German Plenipotentiaries to

Versailles. On the 29th, they arrived.

However, the Italians were not satisfied with their land claims,
especially the port of Fiume, claimed by Yugoslavia and them. He
left the council, only to come back on the 7th of May, a humiliation.

Meanwhile, the Japanese were claiming German islands. The three

acquiesced, making Italy even more angry! In addition, China
wouldn’t sign the treaty.

On 7th of May, the treaty was formally handed over to the Germans.
They had 15 days to comment upon it and hand it back over. This
deadline was extended.

16th June the final treaty was handed over. On Saturday the 28th of
June 1919, the war ended.

Signing the treaty of Versailles was not the end of the peacemaking
process.

2nd of September, the Austrians received the final treaty and

Date Treaty For Lost

September St Austria Trentino (most), South Tyrol and
1919 Germain Istria to Italy.

Also lost to Czechoslovakia,

Poland, Yugoslavia and Romania
November Neuilly Bulgaria lost to Yugoslavia, Greece and
1919 Romania
June 1920 Trianon Hungar Two thirds of territory was given to
y Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and
Romania
August Sevres Ottoma look at book, p 102
1920 ns
1923 Lausann Turkey Turkey regained land lost to
e Greece. No longer had to pay for
reparations.

Reparations were very hard as Wilson was very stubborn, and

wouldn’t accept an “indemnity”. As a solution, Germany was
“morally responsible for the war” but did not have to cover the total
costs of the war, as Clemenceau would have wanted. This became
part of Article 231 of the Versailles peace treaty. Note that Germany
was not entirely blamed for the war.

The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany
and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments
and their nationals have bee nsubjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the
aggression of Germany and her allies.

1. Exactly how much damage had been done?

2. Fair ways of evaluating the damage?
3. What categories of damage should be paid by Germany?
4. How to assess Germany’s liability
5. Should Germany be consulted?

Germany was asked to buy a pig in a poke!

It was also very difficult to ask for a sum that the Germans
could feasibly pay, that the French would be happy with and
that Wilson would agree to!

The problem of reparations was transferred from the

reparations committee to the council of four.