This provides an indepth glance at the peace treaties of 1919-23 internationally as handled by the League of Nations as well as the general peace treaties that were signed following World War One.
This document is a summarisation of all that needs to be covered and provides sources as well as q...
Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair?
AIMS OF THE BIG THREE: WILSON’S VIEWPOINT
HIGH HOPES FOR PEACE:
The peacemakers in 1919 had an impossible job but there was great optimism at the time. One of the main reasons for these
high hopes was the American president Woodrow Wilson. In 1918 he had made a speech outlining his fourteen points, the
guidelines for a just and lasting peace treaty to end conflict.
WILSON’S IDEALIST IDEAS:
Don’t be too harsh on Germany. Wilson believed that Germany should be punished but also believed harsh
judgement would push them to later seek revenge. He feared that communism would take over Germany might
exploit their resentment.
Strengthen democracy in defeated countries. Wilson believed that Democracy was key to peace to Europe.
Give self-determination to small countries that had once been part of the European empires. He wanted the
different peoples of Eastern Europe to rule themselves rather than be part of Austria-Hungary’s empire.
International co-operation. Wilson also believed that nations should co-operate to achieve world peace. This
would be achieved through a ‘League of Nations’, Wilson’s most important of the fourteen points
SOURCE 1
A cartoon published in 1919 in an Australian newspaper
FOURTEEN POINTS: SUMMARY
No secret treaties Independence for Belgium
Free access to the seas in peacetime or wartime France to regain Alsace – Lorraine
Free trade between countries Frontier between Austria and Italy to be adjusted
All countries to work towards disarmament Self-determination for the peoples of Eastern Europe
Colonies to have a say in their own future Serbia to have access to the sea
German troops to leave Russia Self-determination for the people in the Turkish empire
League of Nations to be set up. Poland to become an independent state with access to the
sea
THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE, 1919-20:
, - The conference took place in VERSAILLES
- Lasted 12 months
- THIRTY-TWO NATIONS were supposed to be represented, but no one from the defeated nations were invited.
- Five treaties were drawn up at the conference. The main treaty being the TREATY OF VERSAILLES, which dealt
with Germany. The other treaties dealt with Germany’s allies.
- The important decisions were made by Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Wilson, who were referred to as ‘THE BIG
THREE’
- The Big Three were supported by a huge army of diplomats and expert advisers, but their advice was often ignored.
DID EVERYONE SHARE WILSON’S VIEWPOINT?
When Wilson talked about lasting peace and justice other leaders had to agree with him. However, many were doubtful
about Wilson’s ideas for achieving a just and lasting peace. An example of this was ‘SELF–DETERMINATION’: it
would be very difficult to give the people of Eastern Europe the opportunity to rule themselves because they were scattered
across many countries. Some people were bound to end up being ruled by people from another group with different customs
and languages.
DID LLOYD GEORGE AGREE WITH WILSON?
In private Lloyd George praised Wilson and his ideas. However, in private Lloyd George was less positive about Wilson’s
ideas. He complained to one of his officials that Wilson came to Paris LIKE A MISSIONARY to rescue the European
savages with his little sermons and lectures.
He agreed with Wilson with many issues, particularly that Germany should be punished but NOT TOO HARSHLY. He
did not want to trigger Germany into seeking revenge later and possibly start another war. Like Wilson he was deeply
concerned that a harsh treaty may lead to a COMMUNIST REVOLUTION like the one in Russia in 1917.
Selfishly he wanted to maintain Britain’s TRADE PARTNERSHIP with Germany. Before the war, Germany had been
Britain’s second largest trade partner. British people may not like it, but the fact was that trade with Germany meant jobs in
Britain.
However, unlike Wilson Lloyd George had the needs of the British Empire in mind. He wanted Germany to LOSE ITS
NAVY AND ITS COLONIES because they threatened the British Empire.
SOURCE 2 SOURCE 3
We want a peace which will be just, but not vindictive. If I am elected, Germany is going to pay... I have
We want a stern peace because the occasion demands it, personally no doubt we will get everything that you can
but the severity must be designed, not for vengeance, but squeeze out of a lemon, and a bit more. I propose that
for justice. Above all, we want to protect the future every bit of property, movable and immovable, in Allied
against a repetition of the horrors of this war. and neutral countries, whether State property or private
property, should be surrendered by the Germans.
Lloyd George speaking to the House of Commons before
the Peace Conference. Government minister, December 1918
PRESSURES ON LLOYD GEORGE
Lloyd George faced huge public pressures at home for a harsh treaty. People in Britain were not sympathetic to Germany in
any way. They had suffered over 1 MILLION casualties in the fighting, as well as food shortages and other hardships at
home. They had been fed anti – German propaganda for four years. They had also seen how Germany had treated Russia in
1918 when Russia surrendered. Under the Treaty of Brest – Litovsk Germany had stripped Russia of 25 % of its population
and huge areas of Russia’s best agricultural land.
Lloyd George had won the 1918 elections in Britain by promising to ‘make Germany pay’, even though he realised the
dangers of this course of action. So Lloyd George had to balance these pressures at home with his desire not to leave
Germany wanting revenge.
DID CLEMENCEAU AGREE WITH WILSON?
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