Treaty Lloyd George example essay topic

From Peace to Appeasement: GB Foreign Policy Between the Wars 1919-39 To what extent did Lloyd George succeed in defending British objectives at the Treaty of Versailles? The treaty of Versailles was meant to be the instalment of a lasting peace in Europe and create stability within the continent, culminating in the creation of the League of Nations: the global police force. However, this treaty attracted many criticisms from many diplomats and many would say that it gave Hitler the incentive for revenge against the people who ordered the 'Diktat'. Many historians agree that the countries involved in discussing the terms of the treaty became too concerned with their own personal policies and not what would be universally beneficial. There was no agreed agenda and also secret diplomacy between nations behind closed doors resulted in little cohesion between countries and lack of compromise on important issues such as land disputes or the reparations Germany had to pay.

Also controversial was the choice of Paris. The French had been particularly aggrieved at Germany as the trench warfare tactics used by both sides destroyed vast areas of the French countryside. The French and German national relations had been tense since the Franco-Prussian war and the French didn't want Germany in a position again, so they could attack France. Paris was therefore controversial as it gained a morale victory for the French and Germany was therefore in a weaker position, as they were on French ('enemy') soil. This would have also indicated the Weimar government's inability to run the country strongly, implying that they had given in to the enemy too easily.

This resulted in Hitler's argument that the 'traitors' gave up on the German army and Hitler implied that the Germans could actually have won. The big three of Wilson, Clemanceau and Lloyd George dominated proceedings at Versailles and fought vehemently to preserve their own interests overlooked the demands of other countries such as Italy, who at an earlier secret treaty with Britain and France (treaty of London) were promised considerable gains in land from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, they only received some land and also were upset by the creation of a Yugoslavian state, meaning they were overlooked for land gains in that area as well. However, in defence of then treaty it could actually have been a lot harsher. For example, when Russia left the war and signed an armistice of unconditional surrender, Germany made the Russians accept the loss of territory and huge reparations. The 'Peacemakers' of the Versailles treaty had to cope from huge pressures from their home countries and the immensities of the problems and how to satisfy everyone.

This approach to the conference would have meant that compromises would have had to be made and that everyone couldn't have been satisfied. Compromises would have been difficult to be reached because of the clash of personalities at the conference and the fat that Germany was facing huge economic and social unrest at home due to the abdication of the Kaiser and the creation of the weak Weimar Government. Diplomats at the signing would also have tried to stabilise Europe so the threat of Bolshevism wouldn't spread. Lloyd George was one of these people, although he was heavily criticised for the part he played in the negotiations. Many described him as a devious and unscrupulous politician who believed that the ends justified the means.

This, added to the fact many believed at Versailles he was trying to win popularity, made his position difficult at the conference. He was possibly trying to win popularity because he was trying to consolidate his power back home at parliament as the Liberal party was divided and Lloyd George relied upon Tory party support to stay in power. Lloyd George's judgement was also questioned after he persistently ignored the views of his cabinet and left his foreign secretary at home in Britain. In his defence, Lloyd George was placed in almost an impossible position trying to find common ground between French and US interests, whilst still defending British interests back home, a task which even him, the most creative British politician of that era possibly, found hard to do.

His reputation was in fact heightened by this fact as his skills as his negotiator brought him new global recognition. This would probably explain why the treaty seems as though it was in fact a compromise between the harsh French demands and Wilson's dream of national self-determination and the League of Nations. Lloyd George was often seen as a contradictory character. He was thought to be a keen pacifist during the Boer war, but became a great war prime minister and advocated British conflict against the Irish, Turks and USSR.

He was criticised back in Britain for this as people wanted peace after the horrors of the Great War and wanted a peaceful settlement to the treaty of Versailles. However, civil war in Ireland threatened, as in other countries such as India, a new sense of nationalist movement and Lloyd George wanted to preserve the empire. Which leads to another contradiction at the treaty. The big three, especially Wilson, were supporting a stance taken against imperialism and the reduction and removal of Germany's colonies. However, Lloyd George didn't want to remove Germany's colonies because he wanted the disintegration of imperialism, but because it strengthened the position of the British Empire.

In fact because Germany lost all of its colonies they were given to France and Britain as mandates. This could have been seen as counter productive in securing the relationship between the USA and Britain, as Wilson was adamant that he wanted a policy of national self-determination to be applied throughout the world, and by Britain gaining colonies could jeopardise their trade relationship. However, losing colonies or dismantling would " ve not accepted the empire by the British public. Also Britain would also have lost trade within the commonwealth. Lloyd George had many policies at Versailles.

Some of these differed or complimented the ideas put forward by Wilson and Clemanceau. Lloyd George's position was very difficult at Versailles as he had the competing pressures of France, USA and even public opinion back in Britain, which influenced his policies greatly. He had to use all of his negotiating powers to reach a compromise. Wilson and Lloyd George felt that a fairer Versailles would mean that Germany wouldn't resent the terms in later years. They were concerned that the harsh terms demanded by Clemanceau would cause a German backlash (which later did happen in Hitler's rise to power).

Lloyd George, however, wanted to strengthen the British Empire, whereas Wilson wanted countries to break away from the old imperial empires. This might have led to a strain in Anglo-American relationships. Lloyd George, who would have wanted to preserve the empire to gain public support, may reveal the naivety, which Wilson entered negotiations with. His National self-determination policy He thought that the empires would take note of how he wanted to strip Germany of it's colonies and follow suit, but in fact all he did was strengthen their position and more gains in colonies for imperial countries such as Britain. This naivety is also revealed in the way he handled his policy of the League of Nations. He failed to take into account the traditional rivalries of the great powers in Europe.

Lloyd George wanted peace but also wanted war, another contradiction in his complex personality. Supporting the league of Nations would mean that he would be advocating peace by the league policing the world to restore peace and order. However, probably a more realistic reason for advocating peace would be to gain popular support from the British public who didn't want to lose any more relatives in another horrific conflict. Clemanceau wanted Germany to be disabled so that they couldn't attack France ever again. This hatred of Germany stemmed from his patriotism and his witness of many conflicts with Germany. Lloyd George also wanted Germany to disarm because of pressure from the British public.

Lloyd George's policy of Germany disarming could have been because of three factors: a) The British public seeking retribution and b) Also to secure British military strength and c) Stability in Europe. Many of these factors and issues raised at Versailles were a continuation of British foreign policy from the 19th century. Lloyd George wanted to strengthen the British Empire by gaining Germany's colonies and the reductions in the German military, just like the British Prime ministers in the 19th century. Britain also wanted to preserve their naval supremacy, so they pursued the issue of Germany only having 6 battleships, so they would keep their 2 ships standard.

However, the pursuit of peace by Lloyd George was only due down to public pressure and that he really wanted to enter wars in Ireland, Turkey and the USSR, as he was scared of the threat of Bolshevism. At the treaty Lloyd George did secure British national interests, as well as finding common ground between France and the USA. He maintained British Naval supremacy by agreeing that Germany should only have 6 battleships in their fleet. However, the British already had naval supremacy over the Germans as the German fleet sunk themselves at Scarpa Flow as an act of defiance towards the British. Also Germany was heading towards massive economic recession and therefore was probably unable to spend huge amounts of money in the naval race. The issue of National self determination and mandates also worked in Lloyd Georges favour.

By supporting Wilson in creating new territories for Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, Lloyd George was seen as advocating the distinguishing of imperialism, but was still able to keep the British Empire. The new colonies given to the British also created more trade and resources within the empire. However, a new wave of nationalism was spreading throughout Britain's colonies and the army was unable to cope with the policing role it undertook looking after British interests in these colonies. Lloyd George was eager to be lenient towards Germany so they wouldn't suffer a backlash in years to come. However this possibly was not achieved as France pushed vehemently towards the total ruin of Germany and Britain accepted the issue of huge reparation payments from Germany. This would almost certainly cause massive economic chaos in Germany, with a huge recession and hyperinflation.

Britain was also keen not to enter into any treaty or alliance agreements, as they feared this would cause tensions within Europe between the great powers. They feared they would be pulled into another war, which the British public didn't want. Britain's new in Europe was therefore set. This was as a diplomatic police force, which wouldn't try and discuss problems rather than resort to conflict. This role was reiterated in Britain's acceptance into the League of Nations. Lloyd George was therefore faced huge problems to deal with at the Paris conference.

He struggled to find a middle ground or compromise that would suit everybody, as France and USA's policies were so different and both Wilson and Clemanceau were both stubborn. Lloyd George was also coming under scrutiny from the people at home, in Britain. These factors made the treaty impossible to be one of compromise and one that satisfied everyone. Historians sometimes blame the big 3 for causing so many of the world's problems later in the twentieth century, most significantly the emergence of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi party. However, Lloyd George did fulfil many of the British objectives set out before the conference and Britain was still a major world power.

However, with the emergence of the USA and Japan as both military and economic world powers Britain's position became perilous and was forced into becoming 'friendly' with the Americans for trade purposes. Lloyd George was the most realistic of the big 3 and saw there would be problems if a dictated peace was forced upon Germany, but ultimately probably could do little because of the stubborn nature of the French and Americans and also the pressures from hom.