The 20th century: International Relations since 1919
The Paris peace conference:
• Lasted 12 months (Jan 1919- Jan1920)
• 32 nations represented - defeated nations not invited
• Under chairmanship of Clemenceau
• The Big 3 met over 140 times
• It was agreed that 5 treaties would be drawn up (not necessarily all signed):
The Treaty of Versailles (June 1919) - about Germany
The Treaty of Saint-Germain (September 1919)- about Austria
The Treaty of Neuilly (November 1919)- about Bulgaria
The Treaty of Trianon (June 1920)- about Hungary
The Treaty of Sevres (August 1920) + The Treaty of Lausanne (July 1923)- about the Ottoman
Empire
28th June 1919:
• Over 1 thousand politicians and diplomats and the most powerful men in the world met in the Hall
of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.
PROBLEMS:
When the politicians met, they faced problems, main ones being:
• War had brought destruction especially in France
• In Easter Europe, Ireland + across the world, nationalist groups were keen to rule themselves/
be free from the empires which controlled them
• Communists had taken over Russia in 1017 and their ideas were spreading to other countries
• WW1 had cost 20mil lives. How could they prevent future wars?
THE BIG THREE:
BRITAIN: DAVID LLOYD GEORGE- PRIME MINISTER 6/10
Attitude to Germany:
- Initially v harsh because had suffered direct attacks on British mainland
- Angry as had sustained heavy casualties
- Economy had been disrupted
- However he became more moderate
- Realised economic well-being of Britain depended on economic revival of Europe
- Germany had been their most important European customer before
- A weak Germany wouldn’t provide barrier against communist spread
- Excessively harsh treaty could lead to attempts to overturn the treaty
Ideas:
- Every national group must have the right rule itself freely
- Germans must pay for damage but not too harsh
- Want to build trade links with other countries including Germany
- Keep British Empire strong and protect British interests
- Not deprive German’s of Rhineland
How they felt about the treaty: reasonably satisfied
- Described it as ‘great pity’ and believed another war could happen because of it
- Didn’t like placing of German-speaking people under French or polish rule
Izzy Winter’s notes 1 of 35 Rose Halstead
,- On the whole he got his way
- TofV promoted British interest-extended her colonies- British empire at its peak in 1919
- Strengthened British Empire- additional 1.8 mil square miles + 13 mil new subjects (people they
took over/living in those areas)
- Probably most satisfied as had wanted moderate peace
- Received hero’s welcome at Britain- house of commons approved w overwhelming majority
- TofV punished G w/out destroying its economic ability so good for business and those fearing
communist threat
Aims fulfilled:
- Reduction of German navy-ensured Britain ruled the waves
- Liked being given German colonies as mandates
- Persuaded Clemenceau to adopt a more moderate approach by offering Anglo/American
guarantee against future German aggression
- German naval threat removed at Scapa Flow
Aims not fulfilled:
- Opposed self-determination
- Thought putting 3.5mil Germans in Czechoslovakia = great problem
- When the Treaty was signed- British delegates were v depressed
FRANCE: GEORGES CLEMENCEAU- PRIME MINISTER 5/10
Attitude to Germany:
- Afraid of attack w Germany across border
- Frightened-don't want to suffer again-been invaded by G twice in last 50yrs
- Revengeful-wants TOUGH PEACE
- Angry-German army went across north eastern France during final stages of war causing
deliberate damage -flooding mines, destroying bridges, railways, towns…
Ideas:
- Force Germany to repair all damage- high reparation levels w definite figure
- Achieve peace to ensure future security of France
- Germans must admit responsibility that they alone caused the war
- Weaken Germany (so unable to attack France again)
- Get Alsace-Lorraine back
- Get significant portion of Germany’s colonies
- Rhineland to be independent so no longer common border between France + Germany
- He wanted Germany broken to smaller states
Aims fulfilled:
- Clause 231 (blame)
- Getting back Alsace-Lorraine
- Disarmament clauses
- Being given German colonies as mandates on behalf of LofN
- Treaty went some ways to improve security for France- would be secure on Easter frontier due
to the military terms
- Rhineland- free of G troops + fortifications
- Treaty deprived G of land- reduced economic power/ military capacity
How they felt and aims not fulfilled: NOT BRUTAL ENOUGH
Izzy Winter’s notes 2 of 35 Rose Halstead
,- Had wanted G so weakened that it would never be a threat again
- Angry that only got Saar coalfields for 15 years
- Proposed Anglo/American treaty failed (pg10)
- Angry that Rhineland only merely demilitarised (wanted it powerless and independent)
- Had wanted Germany split up
- Reparations not high enough
- Felt dangerously exposed and feared the recovery of Germany
- 1920- Clemenceau voted out in French general election
USA: WOODROW WILSON- PRESIDENT 3/10
Attitude to Germany:
- Peace-maker and not harsh at all
- America joined the war later and so did not suffer as much * not as vengeful
- Lack of national grievance; American territory not invaded, few lives lost (under 300 civilian
fatalities)
- War had provided profitable trading/business opportunities
- More detached view of [peace proceedings
Ideas:
- Fair and lasting peace
- Established 14 points, identifying causes of war and solutions for them
- Believed war started because nations were scared, they ‘secret alliances’ had been made
against them. *no more secret treaties between countries
- Every nation must reduce weapons, as the arms race (building up weapons) led to last war
- Re-draw borders around states so every national group has its own country
- Every country must have the right to self-determination (choosing your own future), and must not
be held in an empire against their will
- Start LofN to end quarrels without war + solve disputes peacefully
How they felt about the treaty:
- V.dissapointed- probably most unhappy
- Most of his points ignored
- Said if he were Germany, he would not have signed it
- The American congress later refused to approve the treaty
Aims fulfilled:
- LofN accepted
- Map of Eastern Europe mainly drawn according to his self-determination principal
- Partly satisfied by requirement that defeated countries/powers should disarm
- Relieved Rhineland not to be made as separate state and would remain part of Germany- good
for business
- Please Germany not to receive v high reparation burdens
- Recreation of independent Poland with the new ‘successor states’, Czechoslovakia + Yugoslavia
Aims not fulfilled:
- Most of the rest of his 14 points ignored/rejected
- Principle of free navigation of seas abandoned (Britain refused to accept)
- Italy has to be given land due to secret treaty of 1915-goes against his self-determination beliefs
- Only the defeated powers were disarmed
Izzy Winter’s notes 3 of 35 Rose Halstead
, - Neither Britain, France or Belgium would allow self-determination to the colonies in their empires
- Self-determination was also denied elsewhere-he had wanted Anschluss between Austria +
Germany but was denied
- Austria not allowed to unite w Germany
- 1919-Czechs took over Taschen by force
- 1920-Poland attacked + took land inhabited in Russia + Lithuania-all this he had to accept
- He failed to persuade the necessary 2/3 of American congress to approve- they don't want to be
involved in European affairs
- He had a stroke and died a broken man
Agreements
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES WITH GERMANY:
Naval and military terms:
• DISARMAMENT- Germany cut armed forces to 10,000, 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers,
no submarines in navy and no air force
• No German troops in Rhineland but it remains part of Germany
• Allied army occupation on west bank of Rhine for 15yrs
Economic terms and reparations
• Germany + her allies to accept blame for starting war- War Guilt Clause (article 231)
• Germany to accept liability for reparations
Territorial terms: all details textbook pg8
• Germany to lose colonies in Africa+ Far East
• 13% European territory lost
• 12.5% of its population
• 16% of coalfields
• Half of iron and steel industry
• Alsace-Lorraine must be returned to France
• Saar Basin run by LofN for 15 years (in that time France to keep coal mine profits)
• Poland will be given the extra strip of land (because know as Polish Corridor) and so Germany
will now be split into 2
• Germany and Austria must never unite as one country
• Germany’s colonies to be given to LofN
• (Eupen, Malmédy, Moresnet- Belgium)
• (North Schleswig transferred to Denmark)
• (West Prussia, Posen to Poland)
• (Treaty of Brest-livosk to be cancelled, with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania taken away from G +
made independent)
• Danzig to become free city administered by LofN. Poland could use port for external trade
Before war Danzig was flourishing German sea port. W the recreation of Poland, Germany meant
to lose Danzig but Danzig pop. Was overwhelmed w Germans + a transfer to Poland could be
unstable, but Poland wanted it for trade. - Germany loses important area as it is made Free City
Economic+ territorial terms are linked as when territory lost- there is economic impact
LofN terms:
• The covenant of the LofN- G had to accept constitution despite originally being excluded
From the Treaty of St Germain with Austria (1919) and the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary
(1920)
• Austria-Hungary to be split to 2 separate nations forever
Izzy Winter’s notes 4 of 35 Rose Halstead
The Paris peace conference:
• Lasted 12 months (Jan 1919- Jan1920)
• 32 nations represented - defeated nations not invited
• Under chairmanship of Clemenceau
• The Big 3 met over 140 times
• It was agreed that 5 treaties would be drawn up (not necessarily all signed):
The Treaty of Versailles (June 1919) - about Germany
The Treaty of Saint-Germain (September 1919)- about Austria
The Treaty of Neuilly (November 1919)- about Bulgaria
The Treaty of Trianon (June 1920)- about Hungary
The Treaty of Sevres (August 1920) + The Treaty of Lausanne (July 1923)- about the Ottoman
Empire
28th June 1919:
• Over 1 thousand politicians and diplomats and the most powerful men in the world met in the Hall
of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.
PROBLEMS:
When the politicians met, they faced problems, main ones being:
• War had brought destruction especially in France
• In Easter Europe, Ireland + across the world, nationalist groups were keen to rule themselves/
be free from the empires which controlled them
• Communists had taken over Russia in 1017 and their ideas were spreading to other countries
• WW1 had cost 20mil lives. How could they prevent future wars?
THE BIG THREE:
BRITAIN: DAVID LLOYD GEORGE- PRIME MINISTER 6/10
Attitude to Germany:
- Initially v harsh because had suffered direct attacks on British mainland
- Angry as had sustained heavy casualties
- Economy had been disrupted
- However he became more moderate
- Realised economic well-being of Britain depended on economic revival of Europe
- Germany had been their most important European customer before
- A weak Germany wouldn’t provide barrier against communist spread
- Excessively harsh treaty could lead to attempts to overturn the treaty
Ideas:
- Every national group must have the right rule itself freely
- Germans must pay for damage but not too harsh
- Want to build trade links with other countries including Germany
- Keep British Empire strong and protect British interests
- Not deprive German’s of Rhineland
How they felt about the treaty: reasonably satisfied
- Described it as ‘great pity’ and believed another war could happen because of it
- Didn’t like placing of German-speaking people under French or polish rule
Izzy Winter’s notes 1 of 35 Rose Halstead
,- On the whole he got his way
- TofV promoted British interest-extended her colonies- British empire at its peak in 1919
- Strengthened British Empire- additional 1.8 mil square miles + 13 mil new subjects (people they
took over/living in those areas)
- Probably most satisfied as had wanted moderate peace
- Received hero’s welcome at Britain- house of commons approved w overwhelming majority
- TofV punished G w/out destroying its economic ability so good for business and those fearing
communist threat
Aims fulfilled:
- Reduction of German navy-ensured Britain ruled the waves
- Liked being given German colonies as mandates
- Persuaded Clemenceau to adopt a more moderate approach by offering Anglo/American
guarantee against future German aggression
- German naval threat removed at Scapa Flow
Aims not fulfilled:
- Opposed self-determination
- Thought putting 3.5mil Germans in Czechoslovakia = great problem
- When the Treaty was signed- British delegates were v depressed
FRANCE: GEORGES CLEMENCEAU- PRIME MINISTER 5/10
Attitude to Germany:
- Afraid of attack w Germany across border
- Frightened-don't want to suffer again-been invaded by G twice in last 50yrs
- Revengeful-wants TOUGH PEACE
- Angry-German army went across north eastern France during final stages of war causing
deliberate damage -flooding mines, destroying bridges, railways, towns…
Ideas:
- Force Germany to repair all damage- high reparation levels w definite figure
- Achieve peace to ensure future security of France
- Germans must admit responsibility that they alone caused the war
- Weaken Germany (so unable to attack France again)
- Get Alsace-Lorraine back
- Get significant portion of Germany’s colonies
- Rhineland to be independent so no longer common border between France + Germany
- He wanted Germany broken to smaller states
Aims fulfilled:
- Clause 231 (blame)
- Getting back Alsace-Lorraine
- Disarmament clauses
- Being given German colonies as mandates on behalf of LofN
- Treaty went some ways to improve security for France- would be secure on Easter frontier due
to the military terms
- Rhineland- free of G troops + fortifications
- Treaty deprived G of land- reduced economic power/ military capacity
How they felt and aims not fulfilled: NOT BRUTAL ENOUGH
Izzy Winter’s notes 2 of 35 Rose Halstead
,- Had wanted G so weakened that it would never be a threat again
- Angry that only got Saar coalfields for 15 years
- Proposed Anglo/American treaty failed (pg10)
- Angry that Rhineland only merely demilitarised (wanted it powerless and independent)
- Had wanted Germany split up
- Reparations not high enough
- Felt dangerously exposed and feared the recovery of Germany
- 1920- Clemenceau voted out in French general election
USA: WOODROW WILSON- PRESIDENT 3/10
Attitude to Germany:
- Peace-maker and not harsh at all
- America joined the war later and so did not suffer as much * not as vengeful
- Lack of national grievance; American territory not invaded, few lives lost (under 300 civilian
fatalities)
- War had provided profitable trading/business opportunities
- More detached view of [peace proceedings
Ideas:
- Fair and lasting peace
- Established 14 points, identifying causes of war and solutions for them
- Believed war started because nations were scared, they ‘secret alliances’ had been made
against them. *no more secret treaties between countries
- Every nation must reduce weapons, as the arms race (building up weapons) led to last war
- Re-draw borders around states so every national group has its own country
- Every country must have the right to self-determination (choosing your own future), and must not
be held in an empire against their will
- Start LofN to end quarrels without war + solve disputes peacefully
How they felt about the treaty:
- V.dissapointed- probably most unhappy
- Most of his points ignored
- Said if he were Germany, he would not have signed it
- The American congress later refused to approve the treaty
Aims fulfilled:
- LofN accepted
- Map of Eastern Europe mainly drawn according to his self-determination principal
- Partly satisfied by requirement that defeated countries/powers should disarm
- Relieved Rhineland not to be made as separate state and would remain part of Germany- good
for business
- Please Germany not to receive v high reparation burdens
- Recreation of independent Poland with the new ‘successor states’, Czechoslovakia + Yugoslavia
Aims not fulfilled:
- Most of the rest of his 14 points ignored/rejected
- Principle of free navigation of seas abandoned (Britain refused to accept)
- Italy has to be given land due to secret treaty of 1915-goes against his self-determination beliefs
- Only the defeated powers were disarmed
Izzy Winter’s notes 3 of 35 Rose Halstead
, - Neither Britain, France or Belgium would allow self-determination to the colonies in their empires
- Self-determination was also denied elsewhere-he had wanted Anschluss between Austria +
Germany but was denied
- Austria not allowed to unite w Germany
- 1919-Czechs took over Taschen by force
- 1920-Poland attacked + took land inhabited in Russia + Lithuania-all this he had to accept
- He failed to persuade the necessary 2/3 of American congress to approve- they don't want to be
involved in European affairs
- He had a stroke and died a broken man
Agreements
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES WITH GERMANY:
Naval and military terms:
• DISARMAMENT- Germany cut armed forces to 10,000, 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers,
no submarines in navy and no air force
• No German troops in Rhineland but it remains part of Germany
• Allied army occupation on west bank of Rhine for 15yrs
Economic terms and reparations
• Germany + her allies to accept blame for starting war- War Guilt Clause (article 231)
• Germany to accept liability for reparations
Territorial terms: all details textbook pg8
• Germany to lose colonies in Africa+ Far East
• 13% European territory lost
• 12.5% of its population
• 16% of coalfields
• Half of iron and steel industry
• Alsace-Lorraine must be returned to France
• Saar Basin run by LofN for 15 years (in that time France to keep coal mine profits)
• Poland will be given the extra strip of land (because know as Polish Corridor) and so Germany
will now be split into 2
• Germany and Austria must never unite as one country
• Germany’s colonies to be given to LofN
• (Eupen, Malmédy, Moresnet- Belgium)
• (North Schleswig transferred to Denmark)
• (West Prussia, Posen to Poland)
• (Treaty of Brest-livosk to be cancelled, with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania taken away from G +
made independent)
• Danzig to become free city administered by LofN. Poland could use port for external trade
Before war Danzig was flourishing German sea port. W the recreation of Poland, Germany meant
to lose Danzig but Danzig pop. Was overwhelmed w Germans + a transfer to Poland could be
unstable, but Poland wanted it for trade. - Germany loses important area as it is made Free City
Economic+ territorial terms are linked as when territory lost- there is economic impact
LofN terms:
• The covenant of the LofN- G had to accept constitution despite originally being excluded
From the Treaty of St Germain with Austria (1919) and the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary
(1920)
• Austria-Hungary to be split to 2 separate nations forever
Izzy Winter’s notes 4 of 35 Rose Halstead
