Reaction of Germany to Versailles. Was it justified?

A. German reaction: Humiliation, Outrage & Anger

Read p 35

Fredrich Ebert

We want a fair treaty and got nothing of that sort. The Germany population feels angry and in part humiliated by the terms. This treaty does not stand for right. It is a dictated peace that will provoke fresh hatred between the nations. This peace will not be a peace that will last.

B. Allied View: Justified & Best Possible Compromise

C. Best Possible Compromise

Russian Surrender - Treaty of Brest Litovsk

Overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II

Russia Becomes a Communist State after the October Revolution. The USSR is created

Brest-Litovsk

- 25% territory

- 34% population

- 50% industries

- 80% coalmines

- 300 million gold roubles

Versailles

- 13% territory

- 12.5% population

- nearly 50% industries

- 16% coalmines

- 6.6 billion pounds

French Intentions: Revenge

- Not Harsh enough

- Pressure from Britain and France

- French disappointed with him for not exacting a harsher treaty

- Voted him out in 1920 French Presidential elections

British Intentions: Justice

- Versailles was too harsh

- “a great pity”

- predicted another world war would occur because of the deep resentment among the Germans

- Generally glad about the treaty

USA: Wilsonian Internationalism and

Idealism

1856-1924

- treaty was too harsh

- pressure from Britain and France

- Stroke in October 1919 that totally incapicitated him and it was kept from the public till his death.

- Golden opportunity for US involvement in the Leage mised.

- US senate rejected TOV and League

C. Dissatisfaction of Italy

Vittorio Orlando

Treaty of London - negotiated secretly by France, Russia, and Britain with

Italy a. loan of £50 million

b. promise to support Italy's extensive territorial demands after the

war - Trent, Southern Tyrol, Istria, Gorizia and Dalmatia

Italy was granted Trentino, Trieste, (the German-speaking), South Tyrol, and Istria.

But Dalmatia was excluded, as was Fiume;

A postcard from that period.

Japanese Possessions

E. Japan’s Reaction

German rights to Jiaozhou Bay or Kiaochow in Shandong

Japan’s proposed Racial Equality Clause is rejected

Reactions & Demands of China

Zhanqiao pier, Qingdao

Hua Shilou building Qingdao

Qufu, Shandong. Birthplace of Confucius

- Feb 20 1917, Russo-Japanese agreement. Russia recognized 21 Demands and Russian gains in Outehr Mongolio recognized.

- Feb 21 1917 Anglo-Japanese agreement. Shantung for British claims to German islands in pacific south of the Equator

- Similar treaties with Italy and France

- Nov 1917, Lansing-Ishii Agreement of Nov

- Sept 1918, Secret Pact between Beijing and Tokyo. Loan of 20 million Yen to China & Japanese rights to build 2 railways in Shantung and station troops

May 4th Movement