Versailles Treaty in United Kingdom

Summary of VERSAILLES TREATY: (1919)

In relation to the legal history of the United States and the United Kingdom: Occurred in Paris after World War I. Attended by 27 nations – not Russia because of the Revolution – Germany not invited. Dominated by the Big Four – Clemenceau (France), Wilson (America), George (Britain), Orlando (Italy). President Woodrow Wilson introduced his “Fourteen Points” plan for world security. Territorial a. Germany surrendered Alsace-Lorraine to France. b. Germany gave over the Saar Valley to League of Nations authority and Saar coalmines to France control with the provision that, after 15 years, the Saar inhabitants would decide their own political fate by a plebiscite. c. Germany gave up minor border regions to Denmark and Belgium. d. Polish Corridor created. e. The port of Danzig on the Baltic Sea placed under League of Nations control and open for Polish use. f. Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland a future problem), Yugoslavia, Poland emerge as new nations. Colonial a. Germany ceded all its colonies to the Allies to be held as League of Nations mandates. b. Secret arrangements made during the war and incorporated in League of Nations mandates in the Middle East (Sykes-Picot Agreement, Balfour Declaration, Hussein-McMahon Letters). c. Disarmament (prevent Germany from ever waging war again) d. German army was limited to 100,000 volunteers. e. Conscription was forbidden. f. The Rhineland was demilitarized. g. German navy reduced to a few small ships. h. Submarines, military aircraft, and war industries were prohibited. i. War guilt clause (231 – Germany was held solely responsible for starting World War I). j. Germany must pay reparations (she made a few payments until 1931 and afterwards Hitler ignored this obligation). h. League of Nations created.

Resources

In relation to the legal history of the United States and the United Kingdom:

See Also

• International Treaties
• Multilateral Treaties