- Primary Aim: to secure France's frontiers, mainly by weakening Germany to an extent where it could not pose a threat.
- He was scared of future German attacks as...
- Germany shared a border with France.
- The border was not defined by a natural deterrence. (eg. a body of water)
- German invasions of France had been frequent around that period (Franco-Prussian War, WW1).
Therefore, in order to achieve his aims, he tried to achieve the following in the Treaty through a stern peace:
- Permanent disarmament of most of Germany's army, air force, and navy.
- High level of reparations to be paid.
- Return of the previously French territory, Alsace-Lorraine.
- Transfer of great amount of German colonies to France.
- Independence of the Rhineland.
- Transfer of Saar Basin to France.
Woodrow Wilson (President of USA).
- America declared war on Germany only in April 1917, and did not recieve a lot of damage or casualties during the war.
- The war was very profitable for America through trade and business opportunities.
- View of justice was not emotional, because of little losses of the USA, Woodrow Wilson did not feel like he had to harshly punish Germany for revenge.
- Aimed for a lasting world peace through his Fourteen Points.
- Wilson's Fourteen Points were based on ideals which contradicted British and French interests of expanding their colonies.
To achieve his aims of a peace that allowed the maintenance of the prospect of war, he proposed to base the Treaty of Versailles through these "Fourteen Points" which served as solutions to prevent future war.
- No more secret treaties.
- Free navigation of seas in peacetime and wartime.
- Removal of economic trade barriers.
- Reduction of armaments for all countries.
- Impartial settlement of colonial disputes taking into account the interests of both the colonial populations and the governing countries.
- German troops to leave Russia.
- Independence for Belgium.
- Return of Alsace Lorraine to France.
- Readjustment of Italian frontiers in line with nationality.
- Self-determination for peoples of Austria-Hungary.
- Evacuation and restoration of invaded Balkan countries.
- Self-determination for peoples in the Turkish Empire.
- Establishment of an independent Poland with access to the sea.
- Establishment of a general association of nations.
Ultimately, some of these terms were accepted into the Treaty of Versailles.
Lloyd George (Prime Minister of Britain)
Views in November/December 1918
- Britain suffered from economic disruption, great casualties, and damaged infrastructure.
- Conerned about French frontier security, as a German invasion on France would threaten Britain as well because this would mean that the outer defence that France provided to Britain would be removed.
- British wanted revenge and harsh punishment for Germany and to remove Germany's potential to cause war.
- Lloyd George recognised the necessity of these views to win election, and thus campaigned for Germany's harsh punishment and also to obtain Germany's colonies.
Views from January 1919
- Lloyd George changed his outlook from November and December, and shifted towards a more moderate approach that did not punish germany as harshly.
- Afraid that an extremely high reparations figure would slow Germany's economic recovery.
- Did not want to ruin German economy as it was one of Britain's essential trade customers, and would slow the economic revival of Europe.
- Against the independence of the Rhineland as this would cause Germany to have not enough money to consume British goods on a level similar to before the war.
- Against weakening Germany harshly, as a weakened Germany would become a poor border against Communism stemming from Russia.
- Lloyd George was scared that Germans would not be satisfied by the harshness of the treaty and seek revenge leading to overturning the Treaty and start war.
Lloyd George's influence on Clemenceau
- Convinced Clemenceau to abandon the idea of an independent Rhineland.
- Lowered the definite high amount of reparations proposed by Clemenceau.
- Abandoned idea of transfer of Saar Basin to France.
- Abandoned transfer of Danzig to Poland.
- Changes were made to prevent French domination and maintain balance of European power.
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