Peace Conference in Versailles:
Justice for All After War
By Estella, Liam, and Carl
The Conference Opens
The Great War has inflicted it’s wrath upon us all, wreaking devastation to the people, and resentment among nations. Still recovering from the conflict, someone must be to blame for what’s been suffered. Someone must pay for what’s been lost, and reparations must be made. Who is to be the scapegoat?
-The Delegates’ Intentions (Outcome- after revisions)
Italy:
With the lowest requested number in war reparations, Italy adamantly believes that their requirements should be met by Germany, especially as they are currently drowning debt. They think that their proposed number of men would be enough for Germany to defend themselves and no more, which Italy finds appropriate. They also demand that the triple entente pay Italy their promised amount (an under the table negotiation which is frowned upon), and are willing to discuss the fate of Japanese land claims with Japan.
Required war reparations:
Suggest German military limitations:
Japan:
Harboring long rooted bitterness stemming from racial inequality, Japan demands that all nations included in the League of Nations (which they are in support of forming), must be treated fairly and with equal respect. They resent Germany for starting the war, and feel justified in taking back Asian territory that they believe was wrongly taken by Germany; they don’t however require outrageous war reparations from Germany, as many other countries do. They hope that Italy keeps the Balkans, but insistently demand ownership of Shantung.
Required war reparations: None
Suggested German military limitations: Whatever is agreed on by the other delegates.
Britain:
Britain’s intentions lie with dedication to the British people, who suffered greatly during the war and are the foremost concern of the British delegates in this conference. They hope for the Rhineland to be given to themselves, and Alsace-Lorraine to be returned to it’s original authority: France. Britain stands behind and support Japan with regard to equality in the League of Nations, but disagree with their claims to former Chinese territory. They also believe that Germany was the sole cause of the conflict, and intend to drastically charge Germany with 35 billion pounds in war reparations (or 25 billion if Rhineland would go to them) and military restrictions, including a 7 year long ceasing of German arms productions.
Required war reparations: 25 billion pounds paid in installments over 15 years
Suggested German military limitations: 250,000 men, but no military
United States:
The US passionately put forth their resonant hope for world peace. They angled with convincing earnest that establishing peace is their foremost priority, and that they feel obliged to use their power to implement that. Aside from peace, they want to be paid war reparations but don’t require severe military reductions on Germany, with the ideology that trying to suppress such a power will backfire eventually and result in more conflict. They intend to protect Germany from possible assault, and don’t believe that Germany should be held solely responsible for the war. They boldly reprimanded Britain’s and France’s demands as unreasonable using the memorable analogy of a small child bullying a stronger adversary, and don’t think that Italy is owed anything in reparations.
Required war reparations: $30 billion
Suggested German military limitations: 20 planes, 300 000 men, to be used only in defense.
France
Angeling as a victim of the war, who never wanted any of the conflict, France demands that Germany pay for the war. They want to forbid Germany from allying with Austria, and hope for Germany to be prevented from any future aggression. With regard to land, France wants Alsace-Lorraine returned to them, and for all Polish states to be returned to Poland. If any of their requirements are not met, France would want ownership of Rhineland to supply France until the debt is paid.
Required war reparations: Equivalent of 20 billion German marks in money or alternate resources.
Suggested German military limitations: 10 000 men, 6 pre-dreadnought battleships, no planes and no submarines.
Germany:
Finally, Germany spoke in their own defense after being bombarded with numerous accusations concerning the cause of the war, and being demanded to pay enormous sums and military resources. Germany believes themselves to be not the sole cause of the war, and is not willing to pay the full amounts requested by all countries. They recognize that their defense is woefully weak, and therefore agrees to return any stolen territory and reduce their military by whatever is decided upon by the other delegates. Having also suffered greatly on account of the war, they do not feel obliged to pay the amounts initially proposed. They will give back territory to Japan and pay a certain amount to France. They’re fine with US taking over Rhineland but refuse to pay Italy.
The Adjudication-
After hearing the arguments of each delegation, and discussing and dwelling on the potential of each, the adjudicators have come to what they believe to be the most fair conclusion they could:
Germany will keep Bavaria, Saxony, East Prussia, Ruhr, Bremen, Saar, Malmedy, and Eupen.
France will be granted Alsace-Lorraine.
Japan will be granted Chinese Islands
Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia along with Poland will be created
Any territory may hold a plebiscite if the Government is petitioned
All plebiscites will be held by the League of Nations as an impartial body
Concerning war guilt, the adjudicators decided that Germany is not solely to blame for the conflict, but is to be prevented from allying with Austria.
Germany’s military is in fact to be reduced to:
150 000 soldiers, 10 planes, 1 pre-dreadnaught battleship, 15 small auxiliary vessels
No submarines or tanks
No scientific warfare advancement including chemical weaponry
(for the following 5 years)
Cease in arms production
All German troops are to be brought back to Germany directly following this treaty.
The Adjudicators also decided that all countries joining the League of Nations are to be treated equally, regardless of race, economic, or social power. The members will also have open dealings, including those regarding to trade and military.
Finally, war reparations are to be paid in 4 billion pounds and 5 pre-dreadnought battleships to France. Money from Germany’s scrapped dreadnoughts are also to be paid to France, while Italy will receive five pre dreadnaught battleships and five small auxiliary ships. All other ships not previously mentioned are to be split equally between Britain and Germany. All excess German ships, tanks, and planes shall be scrapped or sold, with their Government receiving the payment directly.
The Delegate’s response-
While the adjudicators were unbiased, and tried to bring about the fairest possible conclusion, only some of the delegates are satisfied. Others are wholly underwhelmed by the result, and several are inclined not to sign the treaty.
Despite not being allocated everything they initially demanded, most countries elected to sign the treaty. The obliging countries include Italy, France, Germany and Britain. Japan’s delegates had trouble finalizing a unanimous decision. While they were promised racial equality in the League of Nations, and part of the territory they hoped for, they were not granted the land in Asia they demanded. On account of this, only one third of Japan’s delegates signed the treaty, while one third was adamantly against agreeing to what they viewed as an unfair jurisdiction. Thus, all but one country signed: USA, uncompromisingly set on their demands.
Opinion piece (fictional):
The outcome of the adjudication does truly make one question the adjudicators in their supposed state of being unbiased. After all, how could a truly impartial party make the decision not to oblige the fair and rational Japanese territory claims? The Japanese delegates were resolute but very reasonable in their intentions for the treaty: racial equality in the League of Nations (perfectly equitable, and ultimately included in the Treaty), ownership of Shantung (also very reasonable, and became part of the treaty), and certain territories wrongfully taken by Germany. Interestingly, the adjudicators agreed upon racial equality, and even relented granting Japan Shantung, but is rigidly refusing Japan’s rights to Asian territory recently under German control. The most troubling aspect in this wrongful withholding however, is that numerous countries including .. .. .. agreed that Japan should be allowed those specific areas! Was the point of this conference not to give voice to each country’s needs, and let them influence the treaty terms? Of course it was! What then could possibly motivate those adjudicators to ignore the intentions of the majority?
THE RHINELAND CONFLICT
Many conflicts arose during the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, but one certain conflict stood out above all the rest. And it began the moment that France requested 20 billion German marks (or a least the equivalent in resources) from Germany in compensation for the destruction of the French Industry. And if they fail to pay this, then they will hand over ownership of the industrial German state of Rhineland to produce for France until the debt is paid. You may feel that France’s claim to Rhineland seems a little extreme, but you have to put this in perspective. During the war, the Germans seized control of much of France’s industry, which France fought to take back, and in the struggle most of it was destroyed, leaving France’s industry in complete and utter ruin. This is why they wanted Germany to pay them back, as the German Industry was hardly damaged at all during the war.
Germany however, was not happy about that, as Rhineland was one of their primary sources of Industry, and there was no way that Germany could pay, and so if France’s idea was agreed upon by the other countries and the judges, then France would be forced to give up Rhineland.
The problem then arises that this not only poses a problem for Germany, but it conflicts with the United Kingdom of Great Britain’s claim on Rhineland. The United Kingdom made an even higher request for monetary compensation at 35 billion pounds over 5 years to compensate for the incredible loss of British soldiers at German hands (Which Germany is very upset about, as Germany lost way more soldiers than Britain, yet THEY have to pay Britain). Either that, or Germany can pay them 25 billion pounds over 5 years and grant them ownership of Rhineland. And given that Germany has no way of paying those 35 billion pounds, they would be forced to give up Rhineland, but how do you give 1 territory to two different countries? It’s easier than you’d think, and I’ll tell you how. The United Kingdom of Great Britain agreed that they would take Rhineland after it was used to pay back France, and as long as it was promised to be given to them when France was done with it, then they were happy to agree.
And this is where the good old United States of America comes in. They, out of nowhere, begin defending Germany, claiming that Germany, despite claiming themselves to be, and I quote “the bad guys”, were the victims of this conference. They claim that Rhineland should stay belonging to Germany, and not go to France or Great Britain. They, of course, would also set up a military base and have military presence in the Rhineland. This would go completely against the USA’s very own Monroe Doctrine, which basically said that the United States would not take any land in Europe and in exchange Europe would stay out of America. They defend against this by saying that Rhineland would still be under German rule, just the United State’s troops would defend Rhineland against possible invasions.
Neither France nor Britain are happy about this, and Britain drops any claims to Rhineland, instead supporting France’s claim to it. That’s when the delegates from France brought up the situation Germany is in. France already has their troops in Rhineland, and if Germany doesn’t pay them back, then those troops will suddenly will feel no need to leave. And if the United States of America tries to bring any troops in, then both The United Kingdom of Great Britain and France will implement an embargo on the US. In the end, the judges make the decision to turn Rhineland into a demilitarized independent state under the League of Nations. All tax funds collected would be split as follows: ¼ to Germany, ¼ to maintaining the state, and ½ to paying reparations.When Germany has fully recovered and reparations are paid in full, all the money shall go to maintaining the state and peacekeeping operations.