I. Fourteen Points and Treaty of Versailles

Mr. Klein

Spring 2013

A. Wilson’s Fourteen Points“To End All Wars”

Goal 1: End Causes of WarTerms should eliminate the root causes (MANIA)

of WWI.

Goal 2: Ethnic Self-Determination• Ethnic Groups should be able to control

own political futures.

– Pan-Slavism (and A-H domination of Southern Slavs) had motivated Ferdinand’s assassination and alliances

• National boundaries should be re-drawn allow ethnic self-government

Goal 3: League of Nations• International organization to ensure world

peace.

– Provides forum to resolve disputes without war

• Member nations agree to protect each other’s independence and territorial integrity.

– Article 10 of charter requires members to defend one another’s borders (Territorial Integrity)

– This is most controversial provision

• Precursor to United Nations

So what do 14 Points Specifically Say?

Point 1: No Secret Pacts

Countries would not make secret treaties and alliances.

Point 2: Freedom of Seas• Ships can travel freely in times of war.

• Why important to Wilson?

Point 3: Free TradeFree trade between nations:

• Low (or no) tariffs

• Promotes economic growth

• Reduce trade conflicts.

Point 4: Reduce Military Arms• Countries will reduce their militaries and

stockpiles of weapons

• Militarism had been a cause of WW I.

Point 5: Respect for Colonies• Desires of colonial peoples would be considered

in their governance.

• Imperialism had been a cause of WW I.

Fourteen Points: 6-13• Restore land taken from countries by war to restore

respect for international law.• Borders redrawn using self-determination to reduce

conflicts among ethnic groups. (nationalism)

Point 14: League of Nations• Resolve conflicts before war erupts.

B. The Treaty of Versailles

June 1919

The Big FourWoodrow Wilson

USADavid Lloyd-George

Great Britain

Georges Clemenceau France

Vittorio Orlando Italy

NOT Present…

• GER (Weimer Republic)

• Russia (Bolsheviks – Lenin)

The Big Four in Paris

Four Differing Views of What Treaty Should Include…

Orlando

Italy

• Italy expects territory on Adriatic and in N. Africa

• Becomes clear Italy will NOT get these lands

• Orlando leaves

• Italy incurred MASSIVE debt in war – got little of spoils

Clemenceau

FranceSecurity:

• Disarm Germany• Prevent any future attack

Revenge/Reparations:

• GER must pay for all damage to France

• FR gets back Franco-Prussian War losses

• GER loses all colonies

• Make example of GER

David Lloyd-George

Great BritainIn Public:

• Punish GER• “War Guilt Clause”

“Squeeze them until the pips squeak”

In Private:

• Wants GER to recover

• Relatively strong GER good for GB

David Lloyd-George

Great BritainWhy a strong GER?

• Important trade partner

• Serve as a barrier to keep communism from spreading

Why not say this publically?

• British people VERY thirsty for revenge

• Political suicide to say be lenient

Wilson

United States

• Implement 14 points

• Subject GER to JUST punishment (not too harsh)

• Avoid resentments

• League of Nations = #1 Priority

So What Terms Make

it into the Treaty?

Germany’s Military Limited• Army limited to 100,000

• No Tanks

• No submarines or large battleships

• No Air Force

Rhineland De-Militarized

Treaty of Guarantee

• FR believes GER will attack again unless FR takes control of all land West of Rhine:

– GB and US make pledge to guarantee FR security from future GER attack

– FR then accepts German border that extends to Rhine

– Rhineland is part of GER (but no troops allowed there)

Rhineland De-Militarized

Germany Loses Other Territories

Central Europe Map Redrawn

1. Austria2. Hungary3. Czechoslovakia4. Yugoslavia5. Turkey

Squeeze “Until the Pips Squeak”

• War Guilt Clause Included:

– GER accepts sole blame for war

• GER must pay $33 billion in reparations.

– Last payment made in October 2010!

• May seem unfair – but GER forced FR to pay after Franco-Prussian War

League of Nations Chartered

• Membership Excludes:

–Russia–Germany

• Remember that pesky Article 10!

Article 10: Collective SecurityCollective security is a commitment by all League members to deal with a nation that threatens any other League nation.

So…Let’s Review

Point 1:Point 2:Point 3:Point 4:Point 5:Points 6-13:

Point 14:

GER not humiliated?

NO!NO!NO!NO! (GER only)NO!

Partly (YG, A-H separate, AL back to FR, OE gone)

YES!

NO!

But…Treaties Must be Ratified!• 2/3 vote in Senate to

ratify

• Wilson never consulted Senate!

• Many Senators had RESERVATIONS

Opposition in US SenateReservationists:• League of Nations is

biggest problem– Article 10!!

• Fear will draw U.S. into wars without approval from Congress.

• Also opposed “Treaty of Guarantee”

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge

Taking It to the People• Wilson goes on tour to

rally public support for LON.

• Collapses on 9/25/1919

• Stroke makes him an invalid for rest of term

Treaty Rejected by Senate• Lodge offers amendments to treaty

– Wilson opposes any changes– Amended treaty fails to pass

• Original treaty voted upon– Fails to pass

• US never joins League of Nations– Negotiates separate treaty with Germany

• Treaty of Guarantee rejected– GB also rejects (passage conditional on US)

What is Result of Peace Process?• Is France Happy?

– Heavy penalties on Germany, BUT– No security from German attack

• Is Britain Happy?– German Navy limited and no freedom of seas,

BUT– Heavy Sanctions mean slow GER recovery

• Is US happy?– Wilson traded most goals for LON– Allowed humiliation of Germany– Gained little other than self-determination

Italy VERY Unhappy• Italy feels betrayed that

Allies broke promises

• Huge debts can’t repay– Triggers massive

economic depression

• Lose many lives for little gain

• Orlando and his gov’t blamed – clears way for new gov’t Benito Mussolini - Fascists

Germany MOST Unhappy• Feels betrayed that 14

Points not followed

• Considers treaty a “diktat”– Forced to accept or attack

threatened

• Resents War Guilt Clause and Reparations– Economy destroyed

• Humiliation blamed on new “Weimer” Gov’t

• Clears way for new Gov’t Adolf Hitler - Nazis