The conference and the Big Three

In January 1919 delegates from 32 countries met in Paris to make peace after the First World War
1. The conference was dominated by David Lloyd George, Georges Clemençeau and Woodrow Wilson
  1. The leaders of Britain, France and America, often known as the 'Big Three'
Each of the Big Three wanted such different things
1. 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
1. 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?
1. Wilson's aims:
  1. To end war by creating a League of Nations based on his Fourteen Points.
  2. To ensure Germany was not destroyed
  3. Not to blame Germany for the war
2. Clemenceau's aims:
  1. Revenge and to punish Germany.
  2. To return Alsace-Lorraine to France
  3. No League of Nations.
3. Lloyd George's aims:
  1. 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
  2. Land for Britain's empire.
  3. To safeguard Britain's naval supremacy.

Resource summary

	Created by courtneycoxx almost 10 years ago