The Treaty of Versailles : A Success?

World War I finished on 11 November 1918. Now that the war had come to an end, politicians had to work out a lasting peace. Representatives of the Big Four met at Versailles to negotiate the terms of a peace keeping Treaty. First, the Big Four had to answer the following questions: Who should be blamed for the war? How should the Big Four treat the defeated countries? How could the peace be kept? But he Big Four had different aims. Consequently, compromises were necessary. What were the different aims when the Big four met the first day at Versailles? What compromises did they have to make and how were these initial demands modified in the final Treaty? How did Germany react to the Treaty? Was it a fair Treaty?

France was represented by Clemenceau at the Versailles Conference. Clemenceau was an old man who had seen France invaded by Germany twice (in 1870 and in 1914). For him, Germany was the only country responsible for the war. He was determined to get revenge. His main aim was to make Germany so weak that it would never be able to attack France again. He also asked compensations from Germany for all the damages they had caused on France. In fact, France had lost 1.24 million soldiers and 40,000 civilians during the war. Much of the war had been fought on French soil, so Clemenceau wanted to control German factories. Clemenceau represented the interests and the opinion of the French population. France also wanted symbolicly to destroy old militaristic Germany and hang the Kaiser. Clemenceau also wanted to protect secret treaties and impose naval blockades around Germany, so that France could control trade imported to and exported goods from the defeated country. Territorially, France felt that Germany should be punished. She demanded the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France (taken by Germany in 1870), but also the demilitarisation of the Rhieneland. Furthermore, France thought that Germany's colonies should be taken from it and distributed between the war winners. Clemenceau was the most radical member of the Big Four, and received the nickname "Le Tigre".

Britain was represented by Lloyd George at the Versailles Conference. Many historians think that he was the balance between the idealistic Wilson and the vengeful Clemenceau. Lloyd George thought that the treaty shouldn't be to harsh on Germany because he felt that the treaty was too harsh, peace couldn't be kept and Germany was Britain's second largest trade partner. Consequently, a reduced German economy due to reparations would lower Britain's trade. But Lloyd George came to Versailles just after a general election where he promised to "make Germany pay", to "squeeze Germany till the pips squeeze" and even to "hang the Kaiser". He, like Clemenceau wanted Germany to pay the damages caused on Great Britain. He wanted to maintain and if possible to increase Britain's colonies. He was against Wilson's "self-determination" because it was a threat for Britain's colonies. Finally, like Clemenceau, he was for upholding secret treaties. Britain's was also against Wilson's second point: "the seas are free to all countries all the time" because British citizens thought that controlling the seas was essential for Britain's safety. Lloyd George thought that the German army should be less powerful. He also wanted to help Germany economically in order to make them stronger, so they could become strong trading partners with Britain.

Italy joined the allies in 1915 after the Treaty of London. In the Versailles Conference, Italy was represented by Orlando. In the Treaty of London, the allies promised Italy Trentino and the Tyrol as far as Brenner, Trieste and Istria, all the Dalmatian coast except Fiume, full ownership of Albanian Vallona and a protectorate over Albania, Aladia in Turkey and a share of Turkish and German Empires in Africa. Orlando was sent as the Italian representative with the aim of gaining these and as much other territory as possible.Because Italy lost 700,000 men and 12,000,000,000 Lira (400,000,000 Pounds Sterling) during the war, so they thought they deserved it.

USA's was representated by Woodrow Wilson at the Versailles Conference. Many historians consider him has an idealist. He wanted to build a better, and safer world out of war. Before he led his country into war in 1917, he did so on the basis of his "fourteen points" in order to prevent another war from ever taking place. Wilson's fourteen points were:

1/There should be no secret treaties; all international agreement should be open.

2/The seas are free to all countries at all time.

3/Customs barriers between the countries should be removed.

4/Armaments