National Objectives Paris 1919

Traditional British foreign policy objectives David Lloyd George was often the moderating influence between Wilson’s idealism and France’s anti-German vengefulness. He valued freedom of action for Britain and didn’t want to commit the nation to any alliance of guarantee of action, saw Russia as a major threat and a stable Germany as protection against Russian aggression. Traditional British foreign policy objectives Elimination of the German fleet as a threat to the British empire Concrete plans to defeat German attempts at European domination Return to normal European trade relations No encouragement of French territorial ambitions

Non-Traditional British foreign policy objectives Britain needed German trade for economic and political reasons – many British overseas markets were lost to the US during the war. At the same time, many colonies had become more economically independent. Plus, a financially stable Germany would be better able to make reparation payments. Non-Traditional British foreign policy objectives Germany should be forced to pay reparations (though it should be rehabilitated as soon as possible in order to stabilize international trade) Germany should be forced to declare “war guilt” Germany should lose its colonies (this would guarantee Britain that no bases or ports for a future German navy would exist, as well as be a reward to Britain and its dominions) Independence of Belgium, creation of an independent Poland

French aims for the Peace of Paris Return of Alsace- Lorraine (annexed in 1871) Independent Rhineland – creation of buffer b/w Germany and France US-British-French alliance Extensive Disarmament, loss of all overseas territories by Germany Creation of new independent states to balance German power Heavy reparations

Italian Peace Aims Territorial expansion at the expense of Austria-Hungary (promised in Treaty of London) Reparations from Austria-Hungary Colonies in former Ottoman Empire and Aegean Islands Become protector of Albania (control over foreign policy and resources)

Japanese Peace Objectives 1 Wanted to be considered a major power Not sympathetic to “self-determination” 2 Japan wanted to keep territory in China (Shandong) and in the North Pacific that had been gained during the war (per secret agreement with Britain) 3 Wanted a statement of racial equality to ensure Japan’s fair treatment in the League of Nations (didn’t happen and caused a lot of resentment toward US by Japanese)