The leaders of this conference met in the hall of Mirrors in Paris, France.
Each country sent two representatives.
The victorious powers were USA, France, Britain, Italy and Japan.
However, Italy withdrew because they were only interested in terms which
affected them.
Before Italy withdrew, there were four leaders i.e
Georges Clemenceau - Prime minister of France.
Lloyd George - Prime minister of Britain..
Woodrow Wilson - President of USA.
Vittorio Emmanuele Orlando - Prime minister of Italy.
AIMS OF THE
VERSAILLES TREATY
To solve problems which had led to World war I and bring peace. o To form
independent states from the Empires of Russia, Turkey and Germany. o To weaken
Germany.
To form a world body to keep peace I the world. This was the League of Nations.
NB: On 28 June 1919, Germany was forced to sign. She accepted because: she
was afraid of renewed war.
She was under a new government which wanted peace.
THEIR IDEAS
GEORGES CLEMENCEAU
Wanted a treaty to provide enough protection to France against future German
attack. » He wanted Germany to pay for damages of war.
WOODROW WILSON
» Wanted to form independent states and a world body to keep peace.
LLOYD GEORGE
Wanted to balance his friends' ideas because the people who elected him
wanted Germany to be punished (they shouted, "hang the Kaizer!)
On the other hand, he argued that any harsh punishment would store trouble for
the future as Germany would be looking for revenge.
TERMS OF THE TREATY
1. MILITARY LOSSES
Allied leaders should occupy the Rhineland (border between France and
Germany) for some time,
A 50km belt on the Germany side of river Rhine was to be demilitarized.
Germany army was to be limited to 100,000 men, a small navy but no submarines
and air forces.
2. TERRITORIAL LOSSES
The saar basin (an important source of coal for Germany) was to be administered
by the League of Nations for 15 years during which France was to look after the
mines until a plebiscite (referendum) was held to decide its future.
All Germany colonies were to be mandated. African colonies were divided among
France, Britain, Belgium and South Africa.
Alsace and Lorraine were to go back to France.
Port of Memmel in West Prussia was to be under international control to provide
an outlet to the sea for Lithuania. In 1923, Lithuania took control of Memmel.
Danzig was declared a free city.
The anschluss (union) of Germany and Austria was forbidden.
Russia lost Lativia, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania which became independent,
but also Bessarabia and some land to Poland.
3. ECONOMIC LOSSES
Germany had to pay reparations (compensation).
In 1921, the Reparations Committee declared a sum of £6,600 million by
installments to France and Britain.
WILSON'S ROLE
He came up with 14 ideas which are also known as Wilson's 14 points.
THE POINTS
No secret diplomacy.
Freedoms of seas even in times of war.
An end to economic barriers to trade.
Colonies to be made and developed.
Reduction of armaments to the level of national defence.
Germany to leave Russian land.
Belgium to be restored.
Alsace and Lorraine to return to France.
Boundaries of Italy to be changed according to nationality.
Independence for different races in Austria-Hungary.
Restoration of Serbia, Montenegro and Romania with access to the sea for
Serbia.
Independence of different races in the Turkish Empire.
Independence and access to the sea for Poland.
Formation of an international organisation to secure peace for all nations.
WHY THE GERMANS REJECTED THE TERMS OF THE VERSAILLES TREATY
They called the treaty a diktat by claiming that they had not been invited to the
conference where they could have toned down some of the harsher terms.
They objected that wrong people had signed it. They felt that it should have been
signed by admirals/generals who led Germany to war.
They claimed that they had been promised based on Wilson's 14 points yet the
terms were not in accordance with that.
Germany grieved the loss of her territories in Africa thus being denied the right of
national self-determination.
They resented the disarmament clause by asserting that 100,000 troops were not
enough to keep law and order.
The rejected the war-guilt clause that put the entire blame for the outbreak of
World war I on Germany. They argued that the period was too short to arrive at such
a decision.
They also objected the reparations which they considered a humiliation; £6,600
million was far too high.
WHY IT IS PROPER TO CALL THE VERSAILLES TREAT A 'PEACE
SETTLEMENT"
There was a big representation; 32 countries sent their representatives.
Wilson's 14 points aimed at making peace.
There was a longer period of deliberations.
The principle of national self-determination was aimed at avoiding nationalism.
Demilitarisation of the Rhineland was aimed at reducing tension.
Reduction of the German army would prevent future aggression by Germany.
Alsace and Lorraine were given back to France.
Creation of the League of Nations was aimed at preventing another war.
WHY IT IS IMPROPER TO CALL THE VERSAILLES TREAT A 'PEACE
SETTLEMENT"
Statesmen attended the conference wit different attitudes and interests.
Deliberations were not democratic; they were centred on the "Big Three."
War-guilt clause blamed Germany alone.
Reparations of £6,600 million pounds were too high for Germany.
Right of national self-determination did not apply to defeated and neutral powers.
Neutral and defeated powers were not represented at the meeting.
The period was too short to make all those decisions.
There was too much quarrelling among the Big Three.
Most terms were made to weaken Germany economically and politically.