Unit 5 - 1920s League of Nations and International Relations Flashcards
What are the political conditions in Europe post-WW1?
No stable government east of the Rhine.
Germany in shambles.
Revolutions in Russia.
Dissolution of the Austria-Hungary empire.
What event has also happened in 1920 that caused millions of deaths?
The Influenza pandemic.
Who are the ‘Big 3’ at the Paris Peace Conference?
USA
Britain
France
Delegates from how many states attended the Paris Peace Conference?
27
Who were excluded from the Paris Peace Conference?
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Bulgaria
Russia
What British aims were already met before the Paris Peace Conference?
The surrender of the German fleet, the defeat of the German trade rivalry, and the surrendering of German territories.
What further aims did Britain hope to accomplish at the Paris Peace Conference?
Germany as barrier against Bolshevik/Communist Russia.
Reparations.
Punishment.
Kaiser tried for war crimes.
What did the USA hope to achieve at the Paris Peace Conference?
14 points.
Long lasting, fair peace.
What did France want out of the Paris Peace Conference?
Revenge.
Security against Germany.
Disarmament.
Reparations.
Loss of territory.
Anglo-American guarantee.
(all against Germany).
Who was the Prime Minister of Italy at the time of the Paris Peace Conference?
Orlando.
What did Italy want out of the Paris Peace Conference?
Convince Italians that Italy benefitted from the war.
Territories promised in the 1915 agreement.
What were Japan’s aims in the Paris Peace Conference?
Racial equity clause.
Acknowledgement of territories gained in East Asia during the war.
How were the treaties at the Paris Peace Conference made?
Compromise.
What were the four main terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
War guilt.
Reparations.
Disarmament.
Territorial settlements.
What did the War Guilt clause in the treaties entail?
Germany and allies had to take full responsibility for starting the war.
Needed for all the other terms to be applicable.
What were some of the concerns with making Germany pay large reparations?
How can Germany repay without a significant export trade?
Will Germany’s reparations limit the global economy too much?
Who was the French Finance Minister?
Louis Klotz.
Who was the French Minister of Reconstruction?
Louis Loucheur.
What did Klotz want for German reparations?
Lots.
He wanted Germany to pay.
What was Loucheur’s view on German reparations?
Gentler. He encouraged Germany to sell bonds in order to pay for their reparations, but Germany thought that this was France’s attempt to separate Germany and the USA.
What were Britain’s initial reparation demands towards Germany?
They wanted high reparations.
Why would Britain want high reparations from Germany?
Would prevent Germany from spending money on an army and would help Britain with their pension costs.
Why does David Lloyd George change his mind on high reparations from Germany?
Severely limits German economy and also the global economy.
What is decided about for reparations?
A Reparations Committee will be set up in 1921, but until then, Germany has to make an interim payment of 20 billion gold marks and raise 60 billion through bonds.
What percentages of the German reparations will each country get?
Britain - 25%
France - 55%
Belgium - Full compensation
What do Britain and the USA want for disarmament?
Conscription gone and a small standing army left.
Who is against conscription being abolished in Germany?
French General Ferdinand Foch.
What does the Council of Ten decide about disarmament?
Overrule Foch and accept inter-allied commission.