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.The treaty did not win acceptance by the U.S.forest of Compi�gne, northSenate, despite President Woodrow Wilson s (center)of Paris, on November 11,strenuous efforts, nor did it prevent another global1918.conflict.STMeeting in Paris The major Allied Wilson Arrives in Paris On his ar-powers Great Britain, France, Italy, rival, Wilson was hailed by the Frenchand the United States first gathered populace, both for the entry of thein Paris in January 1919 to discuss the United States into the war in Aprilterms of the peace treaty.Since the 1917 and for his determination toarmistice, President Woodrow Wil- conclude a lasting peace in Europe.son (1913 1921) had declared his Despite this idealistic goal, the talks inaim of writing a treaty to ensure Paris soon became a hard-fought ne-global peace and security and follow- gotiation over the spoils of war.Na-ing the Fourteen Points, a set of prin- tions large and small sent diplomatsciples created by a committee of to Paris to argue over territory, money,American scholars and politicians and the right to govern ethnic minori-during the war.Wilson believed that ties living within their borders.Diplo-the United States could now serve as mats from the losing nations Austria,a mediator in the conflicts that had Hungary, and Germany were shutlong plagued Europe.out of the negotiations and given no80 Treaty of Versailles (1919)*'say whatsoever in the final terms of (1933 1945) to rouse German votersthe treaty.to his side.CONFLICTING GOALS TERMS OF THE TREATYEach of the Allies brought different The result of the Paris negotiationsgoals to the negotiating table.France was the Treaty of Versailles, formallysought to regain Alsace-Lorraine, a signed at the royal French palace ofterritory lost to Germany during the Versailles on June 28, 1919.The treatyFranco-Prussian War (1870 1871).ran more than 200 pages long andFrench diplomats also wanted to per- contained 440 articles.Under themanently weaken the German mili- terms of the treaty, Germany ac-tary and to prevent the Germans from cepted complete responsibility forever threatening another invasion.the war.The treaty held Kaiser Wil-To this end, the French and British helm II (1888 1918), the emperor ofwanted to impose a harsh punish- Germany, to be a war criminal, sub-ment on Germany in the form of ject to arrest and trial.(The kaiser,enormous war reparations.however, had fled to Holland at theItaly wanted control of Fiume, a end of the war.) Germany also sur-port on the Adriatic Sea then under rendered Alsace-Lorraine to Francethe control of Austria.The British and lost all its overseas colonies.sought to maintain their control over The treaty limited the Germana far-flung colonial empire that in- army to 100,000 troops and bannedcluded nations such as India that conscription.Germany could nothad fought on the side of the Allies.produce or import war material, andThe United States wanted to ensure its navy was limited to 10,000 crewthe repayment of war debts and keep and 30 ships, to include 6 battleships.the United States free from any future German forces were forbidden fromconflicts and entanglements on the entering the Rhineland, the country sEuropean continent.In the months most important industrial region,of haggling, demands, and declara- which would be occupied by troopstions, Wilson s principles and the from France and Belgium.The Rhine-Fourteen Points were largely land was to remain  demilitarizedforgotten.for at least 15 years.Although German diplomats were A large swath of eastern Germanypresent at the Paris negotiations, they and the Baltic Sea port of Danzigwere given no say in the discussions.were surrendered to the re-createdWhen the final terms of the peace nation of Poland.This created thewere resolved in June, they were sim-  Polish corridor, a narrow strip ofply told to sign, under threat of an in- land that separated Germany fromvasion by the Allies.The armistice at the German province of East Prussia.Compi�gne and the Treaty of Ver- It placed 7 million ethnic Germanssailles inspired a bitter resentment under the government of Poland,among the German population, which was revived after more than awhich later allowed Adolf Hitler century of division and occupationTreaty of Versailles (1919) 81*'by Germany, Austria, and Russia.Ger- the United States had signed themany also lost territory to Belgium, treaty in Paris, it remained unratified,Denmark, and Czechoslovakia and and the country did not formally joinwas expressly forbidden to unite the League of Nations.with Austria.REPARATIONS AND RESENTMENTCreating the League of Nations The In the meantime, reparations to betreaty also created the League of Na- paid by Germany were set by an Al-tions, which, it was hoped, would re- lied Reparations Committee, whichsolve future disputes before they be- eventually arrived at a figure of 226billion gold marks.This was far be-came wars.By the Covenant of theyond the resources of the GermanLeague of Nations, each member hadgovernment, which soon fell behindthe responsibility to intervene, wherenecessary, to help resolve these dis- on its payments.Without money for investmentputes and arrive at a just settlementand repair of its industry, Germanyof grievances.On returning home,took the fatal step of simply increas-President Wilson came up againststrong opposition to this treaty provi- ing its money supply.The Germanmark quickly lost its value, and hy-sion.Led by Henry Cabot Lodge ofperinflation destroyed the savingsMassachusetts and other Republicanof ordinary German workers.Thesenators, these  reservationistswould not vote to ratify the Treaty of economic chaos increased resent-Versailles unless major changes were ment of the Versailles Treaty in Ger-made.many, and Adolf Hitler s promise torenounce the treaty and return Ger-TREATY EFFECTSmany to its former military gloryAlthough he made a heroic effort tofound growing acceptance [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]