Problems with the Treaty History 12
The Big Three Britain - David Lloyd George France - Georges Clemenceau USA - Woodrow Wilson
It Satisfied No One The French wanted revenge Supported the War Guilt Clause, Military restrictions, De-militarized Rhine Valley, Divided Germany and Austria and return of Alsace-Lorraine Did not think the treaty went far enough wanted a buffer state between them and Germany
It Satisfied No One Britain wanted repayment but to keep Germany as economic partner Supported War Guilt Clause, military restrictions, surrender of merchant fleet and mandates Thought that the 6.6 billion pounds in reparations too high and would limit the ability of Germany to buy British goods
It Satisfied No One United States did not want to be involved in the affairs of Europe U.S. did not sign treaties so they were not committed to enforce them U.S. senate turned down membership in League of Nations and did not want their actions controlled by another country Followed a policy of Isolationism U.S. insists allies repay their war loans
It Satisfied No One Italy storms out of conference Upset they were not being listened to and did not get the land that was promised to them.
It Satisfied No One Germany enraged at Peace done to them. (Stabbed in the back) War Guilt clause 231 “The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage which the Allied and Associated Governments and their national have been subjected to as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies” Felt this was done to humiliate them and justify huge reparations
It Satisfied No One Germany was left economically crippled, militarily vulnerable and politically divided. Germany people hated the new democratic German government – the Weimar Republic – for signing the treaty
Self Determination Wilson’s ideal of redrawing the map of Europe based on Self-Determination is a compromise at best. Not all ethnics live in tight communities Where to draw the border? Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia and Romania force to sign treaties where their minorities would not be treated equal
What became of Austria-Hungary? It turned into: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland As a result infrastructure collapsed Economic systems collapsed The Big Three would not allow free trade
League of Nations U.S. votes not to join as they don’t want to be involved Germany not allowed to join as they can’t be trusted Russia not allowed to join as no one recognizes the new communist government This leaves Britain and France as the only “great” powers in the league and they were tired from fighting
But Finally Peace No. The poles and Czechs fought over territory The Polish army attacked Russia and got land back The French invade the Ruhr No one really believed in the fairness of the treaty