How was the Paris Peace Conference organised?
‘It lasted for twelve months from January 1919 to January 1920.’
‘Thirty-two nations were supposed to be represented.’
‘It was a Conference for the victors. The defeated nations were not invited.’
‘It was under the chairmanship of Georges Clemenceau.’
‘There was a Council of Ten with two members from the five leading countries. These were the USA, Britain, France, Italy and Japan.’
‘The important decisions were taken by the ‘Big Three’, the USA, Britain and France.’
‘There were many diplomats and advisers to support the heads of state.’
‘There were over fifty commissions set up to advise on such topics as prisoners of war, who was responsible for war and undersea cables.’
‘The ‘Big Three’ met informally over one hundred and forty times to determine what would happen and then the rest would ratify what had been agreed.’
‘It was agreed that five treaties would be drawn up at the Conference.’
Why did the Treaty of Versailles punish Germany harshly?
‘Germany had invaded Belgium and France.’
‘Germany had inflicted massive damage on Belgium and France.’
‘Germany had punished Russia severely at Brest-Litovsk.’
‘Germany had punished France severely after the Franco-Prussian War.’
‘The peacemakers did not want Germany to attack again.’
‘The peacemakers had to consider their own public’s views.’
How successful was Wilson in achieving his aims at Versailles?
‘Wilson wanted to achieve world peace.’
‘He believed in self-determination.’
‘Wilson did not want defeated countries treated harshly.’
‘Wilson wanted freedom of the seas.’
‘Wilson wanted to strengthen democracy.’
‘Wilson achieved some of his 14 Points.’
‘The League of Nations was established.’
What actions could the League take to encourage members to follow its decisions?
‘The Council encouraged members to bring problems before the Council so that they could be sorted out through discussion.’
‘The Council could use ‘moral condemnation’. The Council decided which country was the aggressor. It condemned the aggressor’s action and then told it to stop what it was doing.’
‘The Council could use economic and financial sanctions. It encouraged members not to trade with the aggressor.’
‘The Council could use military force. The armed forces of member countries could be used against an aggressor.’
Why were events in Corfu (1923) a problem for the League?
‘The League feared a powerful nation.’
‘Italy was a permanent member of the Council.’
‘Britain and France did not want to use force.’
‘Mussolini out-manoeuvred the League.’
‘Mussolini used the Conference of Ambassadors.’
‘It was not a good example for the future.’
‘The League failed in Manchuria because of the attitudes of its leading members.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
‘It lacked the strength to impose sanctions.’
‘It took the view that Japan was imposing stability.’
‘The League had little interest in a distant country.’
‘The lack of USA membership was crucial.’
‘Japan was too powerful to attack.’
‘The League lacked an army.’
