Aims of France, Britain and USA at Paris Peace Conferences

Britain

• 2mil wounded, ships sank and huge debt due to war

• In possession of most german colonies and huge areas of Ottoman Empire

• Entire german navy  turned over

Views on German reparations: At the beginning believed Germany should pay for costs of war but later wanted to revive the German economy for their own profits but then shifted more to moderate aims.

• Naval supremacy: most concerned with maintaining a navy superior to others. Aim to diminish German naval threat. They rejected second point stating all nations should have free use of sea

• Colonial and territorial consideration: take over german trade and security ambitions in the middle east

• Preservation of Germany: wanted reparations but also rehabilitation for international trade means. Ussr communism fear so a stable germany would help stop the threat

France

• Loss of 1.3 mil with 3 mil more debilitated

• 3.5 mil debt to US

• Northern areas of frame were decimated by war which further hit already fail economy

• Threatened before war from Adagir and Moroccan Crisis

Views on German reparations: Heavy reparations. Don't want the German economy to revive and reparation needed to pay debts.

• Territorial and colonial consideration: Demanded return of alsace-lorraine, desired creation of Poland, Czecoslovaia, etc, to balance german power and Rhine lant state to create buffer zone. Wanted Saar as compensation.

• Military consideration: naturally wanted to limit Germany's military as much as possible due to deaths of WW1. also desire military alliance w/Britain and us against German aggression.

United States

• Entered WW1 later so not too many casualties.

• Public opinion: no country should benefit from the catastrophe of WW1 and believed taking colonies/provisions from defeated colonies would lead to more future conflicts.

Views on german reparations: moderate demands focused on rebuilding international economy and self-determination

• The 14 point document serves as a basis for peace negotiations levied in free trade, set rules for nationalities and disarmament would lead to peace. Also wanted to make an international body to discuss.

Evaluation

Summary: USA long term considerations while britain and France were focused on short term issues so they were harder. Due to significant losses,. The US wanted to demilitarize while Britain wanted a more powerful military. France wants a buffer state but the US and Britain do not agree.