Attitudes of the 'Big Three' to the Versailles Settlement

Question 1

Clemenceau (France)

Answer 1

Thought Germany wasn’t weak enough. He wanted Germany to be punished (and so did the French people). He was pro reducing Germany’s armed forces (100,000 max) and demilitarising the Rhineland because it increased France’s security. However, he wanted the reparations to be very high (so that Germany would be paying the allies back forever)

Question 2

Wilson (USA)

Answer 2

President Wilson thought the Treaty was too harsh and would start another war. However, many US Senate politicians objected the LoN. They were concerned it might force the USA to become involved in future wars and that foreign countries would have control over the US military. Therefore, they refused to join the treaty and signed their own peace treaty with Germany in August 1921

Question 3

Lloyd George (Britain)

Answer 3

George was also worried that the Treaty was too harsh. He was happy that Britain had received colonies to enhance British trade, resources and military power. Weakening the German navy increased Britain’s security (it’s an island) and increased their power at sea. He then suggested more lenient terms such as allowing Germany to join the LoN. He was worried that too much hate towards Germany could start another war, that if German people became to disillusioned there would be a communist revolution (as in Russia, 1917). However, the UK did want revenge on Germany.

Question 4

Lloyd George did not believe punishing Germany was the right call, so why did he do it?

Answer 4

He had to show that he represented public opinion, or risk losing political support at home. The people wanted to Punish Germany and he had to show them that he was taking their views into account.

Question 5

Why was creating new countries problematic?

Answer 5

Wilson’s 14 points stated the right to self-determination (ethnic groups can rule themselves). Several new countries were created this way. However, the countries created were unstable because ethnic groups who opposed one another were mixing, leading to conflicts. This made self-determination hard and creating new countries harder.