Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
The Peace Treaties 1919-1920 The Treaty of Versailles The Main Terms Treaty of Versailles Overview The Paris Peace Conferences finally began on January 19, 1919 Nine weeks after the signing of the armistice, due to the political situation in both the USA and Great Britain The conference was to be a showpiece - it had its own printing press and telephone lines However, lacked clear organization or formal procedures Treaty of Versailles Overview The opening was attended by delegates from 27 states – 32 nations ultimately represented Discussions about the terms were not attended by all 32 states – special commissions and committees were established to draft the clauses No central coordinating body – conflicting solutions The Council of 10: the prime/foreign ministers of France, Great Britain, USA, Italy, Japan Requests in formal writing – slowed progress Treaty of Versailles Overview Many of the terms were compromises designed to keep the peace process alive In June 1919, the Treaty was finally signed The treaty became the basis for all the other treaties that resulted from the peace talks Final version was over 200 pages long and contains 440 clauses including astronomical instruments to China and an African chieftain's skull to Britain Treaty of Versailles Overview Discussions in the first months of the peace talks focused on five main areas: The formation of the League of Nations Responsibility for the outbreak of the war Reparations for the cost of an damage caused by WWI The redistribution of territories in Europe and colonies Disarmament The League of Nations - USA View Wilson was an idealist – future peace could only be derived through the League The league would allow nations to discuss their differences The United States wanted the League to operate like a world parliament Representatives could reach decisions on matters that affected them The League of Nations - British/French View The British sought to avoid formal world parliament They preferred a loose organization – meet when there is an emergency The French, in contrast, imagine a military alliance – an organization that: -would enforce treaties -ensure security -prevent Germany from recovery -intervene in disputes as necessary Responsibility For the Outbreak of World War I Responsibility Vital to establish during early talks Linked to who would pay for the war Little doubt – Germany responsible made it difficult for anyone to express any other opinion Responsibility Commission On the Responsibility of the Authors of the War and on the Enforcement of Penalties Representatives: Great Britain/Belgium/Italy/France/ Poland/Greece/Japan/Roma nia/Serbia Clause 231 of Treaty of Versailles - "War Guilt Clause" War Guilt Clause Provided the legal argument for guilt Clause 232 – Germany must pay reparations Physical damage/war pensions Reparations No one knew total cost – made difficult to assess value France wanted reparations to hinder German recovery Britain wanted Germany to recover for reasons of trade – British citizens didn't Reparations War taxes-didn't cover all expenses Needed to pay back the US (Who refused to cancel war debts) US agreed with Britain – Great Britain canceled assistance to France This placed a heavy financial burden on France Reparations Great Britain sought maximum reparations Feared France/Belgium would eat into their share Demanded pensions included – George threatened to walk out of conference Reparations Commission Formed due to bickering and disputes To determine what Germany could pay back Germany made interim payment of 20 billion gold marks Belgium took nearly half/Britain and France split the rest Reparations Question of what form reparation payments would take The German central bank did not have enough liquid assets Germany handed over all merchant ships of more than 1600 tons, a quarter of their fishing fleet, 200,000 tons of shipping to be built for the allies for the next five years All considered excessive by Germany Redistribution Of territories Western Europe Alsace-Lorraine returned to France Belgium won the regions of Eupen and Malmedy from Germany Some German land annexed to Poland Poland The reestablishment of an independent Poland was important to both the USA and France It would create a strong nation on Germany's eastern border For Wilson, a matter of selfdetermination However, Poland would need the economic means to maintain its independence Therefore, Poland needed access to the sea Poland Before Treaty Poland The new state of Poland was awarded a number of regions from Germany Danzig, at the mouth of the Vistula River was strategically important for Poland to be economically viable Problem: Danzig was mainly a German town surrounded by a Polish area Lloyd George worked out a compromise – Danzig would become a free city controlled by the league of Nations Poland Polish Corridor – a territory defined by the Treaty of Versailles made up of land that was formerly part of West Prussia. Curzon Proposal - The attempts to mark out Poland's eastern borders with Soviet Russia Poland Poland Poland As a result of the creation of Poland, the German nation was split in two Germany lost around 2 million of its citizens in the east Germany lost a large amount of raw materials – coal in particular Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia were also created in the Baltics Former German Colonies German colonies seized during the war should not be returned Problem: what should be done with them? Wilson opposed to the outright seizure – self determination for colonial peoples Instead, Wilson wanted these regions to be run as mandates by more advanced nations The Mandate System Mandates - territories formally belonging to Germany or Turkey that were taken away following their defeat and placed under the administration of another country-often Britain or France-under the supervision of the league of Nations. The aim was to prepare the country for independence The Mandate System The allies would help former colonies develop into modern states Lloyd George agreed with Wilson believing that the "mandate system" was part of what Great Britain had already been practicing for years South Africa, Australia and New Zealand were concerned about their own security They wished to annex German south west Africa, New Guinea, and Samoa These demands cause conflict with the USA – Wilson determined to uphold point 5 of the 14 points The Mandate System The Mandate System Jan Smuts - South African prime minister Posed compromise. Suggested that the mandates should be divided into three categories Based on: stage of development of the population, the economic conditions, and the geographical situation of the territory The dominions and Japan were willing to accept this – they wanted the mandatory states to be named immediately The Mandate System The United States objected Wilson did not want to give the impression that the victorious powers were carving up plans as if they were spoils of war Wilson first suggested the mandate system but was not happy with the terms which favorite the British dominions and Japan The United States grew increasingly nervous about the Japanese influence in the Pacific region The Mandate System Japan threatened to leave the conference – forced Wilson to except the compromise. The mandates themselves were allocated in May 1919 Some historians argue that it was these decisions that helped turn the US Senate against the treaty – ultimately rejecting the peace settlements The loss of German colonies impacted the German economy to a great degree Disarmament Disarmament The allies agreed that Germany must reduce its Armed Forces to the lowest point compatible with their security Britain and the United States sought an end to conscription France did not want Germany to have a professional army at all The United States won the argument Disarmament Terms Germany was allowed in army of 100,000 professional soldiers Soldiers could serve for 12 years preventing an established reservist force Restrictions were placed on the number and size of guns/could not own armored vehicles German Navy restricted to six battleships six light cruisers, and 12 destroyers; forbidden to build U-boats Germans banned from having any military aircraft Read handout: pages 55–70