Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The conference and the Big Three
- In January 1919 delegates from 32 countries met in
Paris to make peace after the First World War
- The conference was dominated
by David Lloyd George, Georges
Clemençeau and Woodrow Wilson
- The leaders of Britain, France and America, often known as the 'Big Three'
- Each of the Big Three
wanted such different
things
- By March 1919 it looked as though the conference was going to break up
- Lloyd George issued the Fontainebleau
Memorandum, and persuaded Clemençeau to
agree to the League of Nations and a more
lenient peace treaty that would not destroy
Germany
- The Germans published a rebuttal,
arguing that the treaty was unfair, but
they were ignored.
- Expectations of the peace treaty
- The people of Europe wanted lasting
peace, and also to make Germany pay for
the damage done, and revenge.
- What did the Big Three want?
- Wilson's aims:
- To end war by creating a
League of Nations based on his
Fourteen Points.
- To ensure Germany was not destroyed
- Not to blame Germany for the war
- Clemenceau's aims:
- Revenge and to punish Germany.
- To return Alsace-Lorraine to France
- No League of Nations.
- Lloyd George's aims:
- A 'just' peace that would be tough enough to please the
electors who wanted to 'make Germany pay', but would
leave Germany strong enough to trade
- Land for Britain's empire.
- To safeguard Britain's naval supremacy.