Kissinger’s Stance on the Treaty of Versialles

1. Kissinger’s Stance on the Treaty of Versialles John Moore, Amos Bartelsmeyer, Tad Desai, Casey Zuccarello

2. Terms of the Treaty of Verssailes Land was taken away from Germany Alsace-Lorraine to France Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium Northern Schleswig to Denmark Hultschin to Czechoslovakia West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia to Poland All colonies were usurped by League of Nations Military was reduced in Germany Only 100,000 troops No tanks or air force Few naval ships and no submarines Rhineland was demilitarized Reparations for Germany to pay to Allies 33 Billion dollars War Guilt Clause Blamed the War on Germany League of Nations was formed This treaty would ultimately fail plunging the world into yet another war. Kissinger gives an answer as to why this happened stating that because each country wanted something different, the alliance would be driven apart and no country could get what it wanted resulting in a lack of enforcement which would allow Germany to regain its dominance.

3. US goals in Peace Conference of Paris • The overarching theme of the conference for Wilson is a world based on the Rule of Law. • He believes decisions should be based on moral judgments not geo-political or power interests. • He does not want a world based on power and on individual interests. • Wilson does not wish to punish Germany or take away from her rightful power or ability to grow. • He wishes to unite Europe not divide it. • Wilson does not want “equality of territory or of resources” but “an equality of rights”.

4. 14 Points • Fourteen Points • Has two parts • First (must be included) • Open diplomacy • Freedom of the seas • General disarmament • Restoration of Belgium • Evacuation of Russian territory • League of Nations • He envisages a “universal association of the nations to maintain the inviolate security of the highway of the seas for the common and unhindered use of all the nations and to prevent any war begun either contrary to treaty covenants or without warning and full submission of the causes to the opinion of the world—a virtual guarantee of territorial integrity and political independence” • Second (should be included) • Return of Alsace- Lorraine to France • Ethnic self determination • Autonomy for minorities in: • Austria-Hungary • Ottoman Empire • Readjustment of Italy’s frontiers • Evacuation of the Balkans • Internalization of the Dardanelles • Independent Poland with access to sea

5. What Britain Hopes to Gain Britain wanted revenge on Germany but they also wanted to help build their economy back in a way that would punish Germany as well. The British decided that they would demand that they would be paid back all of the damages and expenses of the war from Germany and that they must also acquire the German’s merchant fleet to replace all of those that were sunk during the war by the German submarines.

6. France’s Goals In Sharp Contrast to America, France was looking to punish Germany as much as possible. France really had two main goals, punish Germany, and secure the safety of France. It was a major force driving the reparations payments and demilitarization of Germany. It also gained land that was lost in the Franco-Prussian war and took control over the industrial center of Germany trying to suck out resources as payment. France had an immense amount of anger towards Germany and if it weren’t for the US would have liked Germany to suffer more. The representatives were also largely concerned with the future safety of France. After the agreement they felt that there wasn’t enough incentive for Germany not to attack and pushed resources into strengthening the younger, new nations created by the treaty the give the appearance of a two front war. As the German economy began to slow, France made sure they were still getting repaid and tried to take resources in place of money. France was really the only country concerned with carrying out the treaty because they would be the country easiest to attack and were therefore in most danger. So France and America really represented polar opposites and this would be a contributing factor to drive the old alliance apart.

7. Other Important Countries Japan Italy Italy also wanted to gain land from Germany but again, the allies said no and Italy completely left the peace conference. Just like Japan, Italy would also join the axis powers in WWII. • Japan was hoping to gain more power in the world as was seen by the 21 demands. • It was hoping to gain some of the German territory. • It was denied this land and would cause a major rift that would be a contributing factor to them joining the axis powers in WWII.