The+Big+Four

__The Big Four__ Prior to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, four leaders from the Allied Powers met to determine the course of negotiations in the World War I peace talks. Georges Clemenceau of France, David Lloyd of Britain, Woodrow Wilson of the United States, and Vittorio Orlando of Italy needed to establish a combined position on peace before meeting with the enemy. Under the control of few powers, it would jeopardize the principles of “peace without victory”, but the nations of Europe had to prevent any possible means of German aggression truly make it the “War to End All Wars.” (History.com) Georges Clemenceau

Coming into the conference, France was majorly concerned about the safety of their territory. Securing their borders would factor into their defense in the future. During the negotiations, France tried to hammer Germany the hardest trying to weaken the country militarily and economically. Clemenceau and the French government believed that President Wilson’s Fourteen Points were not radical enough. They argued that Germany should not have the power to wage war in the future. France specifically demanded the return of the Alsace-Lorraine territory which was lost during the Franco-Prussian War. (Ask.com) Under the topic of self-determination, the Allied forces attempted to advantageously divide Europe for dominance over resources. Clemenceau supported the new borders of Poland to extend to the Baltic Sea which would reduce German naval authority. (pbs.org) To accomplish France’s economic goal, they supported the “war guilt clause” which would lead to severe inflation and debt in Germany.

David Lloyd George Lloyd George attended the peace conference with an economic mindset. Britain originally stated its mission to “make Germany pay for the war.” As the talks progressed, Lloyd George found his role as a mediator between the radical ideas of Georges Clemenceau and the tolerant principles of Woodrow Wilson and his Fourteen Points. He wanted to keep the British Empire unified without being forced to comply with a League of Nations. Public opinion pushed the Prime Minister to sanction a rebellion against Kaiser Wilhelm II and establish the Weimar Republic. (The Corner) Taking the position of France and Italy, however, would only anger Germany, who would possess the motivation for vengeance in an even greater war. He also considered the economic implications; if Germany lacked funding, how would it purchase British goods? (The Corner) Lloyd George, along with French and other international efforts, forced Germany to sign the “war guilt clause.” This meant that Germany was to accept full responsibility for causing the war, give up territory, and pay the war debts of the Allies: £6,600 million (about $33 billion US dollars). (pbs.org)  The War Guilt Clause from the Treaty of Versailles- Reparation. Section I Article 231 "The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies."

Woodrow Wilson

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States of America. Wilson's attendance to peace conference made him the first president to travel to Europe during his term. (u-s-history.com) Wilson's intentions in the conference were to push is Fourteen Points. Unfortunately the acceptance of his Fourteen Points failed, for Clemenceau and George refused to accept certain points. Wilson tried to sway the positions of France and Britain who wanted to heavily punish Germany, while Wilson believed in a more gentle and tolerant approach, exemplified in his disapproval of Article 231. The most important of 'The Fourteen Points' was the formation of a 'League of Nations.' In order to appease Wilson France and Britain agreed to charter the League of Nations. Their hope being that in turn Wilson would agree to their propositions. But because the charter of the League of Nations conflicted with the isolationist policies the League of Nations was never ratified by congress. For the same reasons the United States never became a part of the Treaty of Versailles and signed separate treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungry in 1921, under the presidency of Warren Harding.



 Vittorio Orlando Vittorio Emanuele Orlando was the was the 28th Prime Minister of Italy. Italy's main goal in the peace talks was to aquire land in the adriatic sea. Although his nation played an important part in the secret delegations, due to Orlando's inabilty to speak english Sidney Sonnino, the forgien minister took control in the talks. The differences between the two leaders was disasterous. Orlando wanted to give up italian claims on Dalmatia in order to obtain Rijeka, a key adriatic seaport. Sonnino did not want to give up Dalmatia. In the end italy claimed both lands but recived neither. Orlando dramitally left the conferences in April 1919, he returned the month later but was forced to resign because he could not secure adriatic lands for his nation. His resignation meant that he would not be a signitory on the Treaty of Versailles. When the treaty led to the out break of World War II Orlando prided himself on not signing the treaty.