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JWC
MUNTERREY 2016
Committee: Joint War Committee (JWC)
Topic: The Treaty of Versailles
President: Bernardo Vera
Moderator: Erika Elizondo
Welcome Letter
Delegates,
It is a great honor for me to receive you in this Model United Nations
Simulation, Munterrey 2016. In this committee you will all have to use critical
thinking, strategic action taking, and obviously great debating abilities in
order to solve a major world military issue. It is necessary for me to remind
you that this is not a normal United Nations Simulation committee, not even
a normal crisis committee. In this committee you will not be representing a
country or an economy, you will be generals and will represent your
country’s military. With that i hope that most of you have deduced what this
committee it is about (if not you will be explained further on in the first
session). From my part I can not deliver any more information regarding the
logistics of this debate. With no more to say, I expect great attitude and
hard work in general from your part.
Sincerely,
Your president,
Bernardo Vera.
Bernardo Vera
President
Erika Elizondo
Moderator
Rosamaría Díaz
Gabriela Gutierrez
Marcela Sofia Benavides
Assistant Directors
[email protected]
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Committee Introduction
The Joint War Committee consists of debating the mobilization of
troops and the efficient usage of military strategy as a result of a given
situation of bellic nature. Therefore, the participants do not represent
delegations, but rather embody generals. The committee will be separated
into two sides, one in favor and one against the topic in matter. In some
occasions each side will be granted privacy. That is, both sides will be
separated. In said case, each band will conduct smaller, intramural debates
with the purpose of coming to an agreement regarding internal
structuration and military operations.
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Quorum
Band 1 (those contempt with the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles):
● United States took on the role of a continental moderator in the postbellic context. Was satisfied that Wilson’s 14 Points were implemented
as the ideological base for the Treaty of Versailles, eventually creating
the League of Nations.
● France was given back the territory that Germany had conquered in
the Franco-Prussian War (1870); Alsace and Lorraine. Was promised
protection by Great Britain and the United States in case of another
German intrusion. Actively demanded the occupation and
federalization of the Rhineland region, as well as the economic
weakening of the German nation.
● Great Britain: was granted territorial concessions (mandates) under
the commandment of the Treaty of Versailles. Actively argued that
Germany should not be imposed such strict limitations, for it
represented an important commercial partner whose economic
downfall could produce a state of continental crisis.
*The Treaty of Versailles attempted to delegate France and
Britain’s extremely opposing views regarding the severity of the
punishment that Germany should be imposed. Ultimately
instituting limitations that weakened Germany but did not
impale it economically, the treaty pleased both nations.
● Japan was granted a mandate in the Shandong peninsula (an
important geo-political center that enabled naval commerce), as well
as other important territorial concessions that allowed it to consolidate
its imperialistic policy, and strengthen its economic grasp in the
oriental region.
● Republic of Poland becomes an independent republic under the
Treaty and the Wilsonian principle of self-determination (was formerly
split between the German Empire, the Russian Empire and the Austro-
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Hungarian Empire). Its territory increased with West Prussia, Posen and
Upper Silesia.
● Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes: the treaty enabled the
creation of this state, (under the principle of self determination) whose
territory was formerly a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Treaty of
Saint-Germain). Likewise, it was appointed a 450 million dollar
payment from Bulgaria due to war expenses, and was granted
important territorial concessions from former Bulgarian regions in the
occidental area.
● Czechoslovakia: the treaty enabled the creation of this state, under
the principle of self determination, whose territory was formerly a part
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Treaty of Saint-Germain). Likewise, it
forced Germany to concede the territory of the Hultschin district to
Czechoslovakia, and Hungary to concede Slovakia and Ruthenia.
(Treaty of Trianon).
● Belgium: autonomy of Belgium was restored with the Treaty under the
principle of self-determination. This neutral state had been invaded by
German forces in 1914 as part of the Schlieffen Plan, whose purpose
was to take Paris and thus gain control of France. Likewise, the treaty
granted territorial concessions that allowed Belgium to expand its
territory (Eupen, Moresnet and Malmedy).
Band 2 (those that are not content with the conditions of the Treaty of
Versailles):
● Weimar Republic: the Treaty of Versailles included a culpability clause,
and dictated the loss of German colonies in the Asian continent, a
significant reduction in armed forces, a loss of 13% of its national
territory, a debt of over 5 million dollars in war reparation expenses,
and the creation of an international commission that would ensure
the disarmament process in the country.
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● Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic: although this country had
participated in the war, and had been a part of the Allies up until
1917, Russia was not included in the post-bellic negotiation process
and was thus not benefited by the Treaty of Versailles. This was justified
(by the nation's leading said negotiation process) by the fact that the
nation was involved in internal turmoil due to the Russian Revolution.
● Republic of China: was forced to give up the control of the Shandong
province -a major geopolitical center that enabled naval commerceto Japan; an action that directly defied the ideological concept of
the Wilsonian points and the principle of self-determination.
● Turkish Republic: was not included in the post-bellic negotiation
process, and thus was not benefited by the treaty. Part of its land was
given for the creation of new nations such as Yugoslavia,
Czechoslovakia and Yemen.
● Kingdom of Bulgaria: treaty substantially limited the nation’s army and
forced it to pay 450 million dollars of war expenses to Yugoslavia, as
well as make important territorial concessions to said newly-formed
nation (Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine).
● Italian Empire: was persuaded to join the Allies mid-war by being
promised substantial territorial concessions. However, due to the
adoption of the Wilsonian principles as an ideological base for the
post-bellic context, the magnitude of these concessions was greatly
reduced in an attempt to respect the self-determination clause hence triggering a state of insatisfaction.
● Republic of German Austria: was dismembered under selfdetermination clause, and the Republic of Austria was created. Was
forced to recognize the creation of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia
and yield territory to these new states (Treaty of Saint Germain).
● Hungarian Democratic Republic:was dismembered under selfdetermination clause, and the Republic of Hungary was created. Was
forced to recognize the creation of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia
and yield territory to these new states (Treaty of Trianon).
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Topic Introduction
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed on June 28th, 1919,
at the end of the First World War. The treaty was created by the victorious
countries of the war to establish an international agreement between the
Allies and the Central Powers in an attempt to prevent another Great War.
However, the agreements made proved to be of an imposing nature in
regards to the defeated countries.
Topic History
On July 28th, 1914, the great bellic conflict that would come to be
known as World War I, commenced within a context of improved
continental industrialization and unprecedented advancements in the field
of war technology. Prior to the war, and triggered by rising diplomatic
tensions within nations due to clashing imperialistic policies, a system of
alliances was developed. The League of the Three Emperors was composed
by Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Russian Empire.
Subsequently, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy formed the Triple
Alliance, while Great Britain, France and Russia created the Triple Entente.
After the assassination of Duke Franz Ferdinand -heir to the Austrian
throne- by a Serbian, and the consequent Austrian ultimatum to Serbia, the
European continent became intricately involved in a mass conflict that
caused severe destruction due to the military empowerment that the
Industrial Revolution enabled. In 1917, the First World War gained the status
of a global bellic conflict as the United States became involved, and was
integrated into the Allied Powers (formerly known as the Triple Entente), thus
fighting against the Central Powers (formerly known as the Triple Alliance).
By 1918, Germany maintained a strong position in the military scheme
of the Great War, and it seemed like the Central Powers were going to be
victorious. However, reinvigorated by the newly-acquired support of the
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United States, Great Britain and France counter-attacked and managed to
defeat Germany and its allies. Due to said defeat, the German Kaiser
stepped down, symbolizing the end of World War I.
Questions
1. What is your nation’s position regarding the Treaty of Versailles?
2. Does your nation consider the Treaty fair, or of an imposing nature?
Take into account your nation’s participation and role in the war
scheme.
3. Do you believe that Wilson’s 14 Points were an efficient and legitimate
platform for the post-war negotiations and structural scheme?
4. Do you believe that Wilson’s 14 Points resulted in ambivalence and/or
ideological contradictions? Why or why not?
5. Does your country support the creation of a League of Nations? Why
or why not?
6. Is your country in favor or against the occupation of Rhineland? State
the reasons and arguments.
7. Do you believe that the Treaty of Versailles will enable a state of
continuous peace? Why?
8. Do you believe the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles should be
modified? Why, how, and to what extent?
9. In what ways do the conditions stated in the Treaty of Versailles affect
or benefit your country’s national interests and/or wellbeing?
10. What actions did your country commit that led to the sanctions/
benefits stated in the Treaty of Versailles?
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Bibliography
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October 1, 2015
from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history
BBC. (2015). BBC Schools - How did war end? Retrieved October 1, 2015 from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/ww1/25403869
History Learning Site. (2000). The Treaty of Versailles. Retrieved October 1,
2015 from
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918to-1980/the-treaty-of-versailles/
Kaiser, D. (1996). Treaty of Versailles - World War I. Retrieved October 1, 2015
from
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/treaty-of-versailles
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Fondo de Cultura
Económica
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http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007428
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