CLEMENCEAU: ROLES AND GOALS French people- vociferous in calling for security against future German aggression and for

reparations for all the damage caused by the Germans in northern France In Paris, he tried his best to impose a punitive settlement on Germany. Clemenceau‘s Belief – Germany should be brought to its knees so that she could never start

a war again French should abandon its claims to annex all or part of Rhineland or to detach from

Germany His strategy to deal with Germany was to try to combine measures to deprive it of territory,

people and raw materials, with a continuing commitment from America and Britain to maintain the victorious wartime coalition. He saw both as vital to future French security. His problem was to balance the two strands of his policy and to calculate how far he could pursue one without jeopardising the other.

He continued to press for more concessions, including an extended Allied (British, American and French) occupation of the Rhineland and demilitarisation of all the Germany territory on the French side of the Rhine and in a 50kilometre deep zone running parallel to the river on the German side

Clemenceau to dominate proceedings as presides over the conference. His command of both French and English gave him added advantages.

French Aims for the Peace of Paris

Military Considerations o German military to be limited as much as possibleo Britain and America to sign military alliance with France

Reparationso To pay for war damageo To pay for war expenseso To punish Germany for causing the waro 2 SIDES: Keynes – French who made in the first instance the most definite and the

most extreme proposals, mainly responsible for the conference’s difficulties over reparations vs. British representatives presenting highest demands- Alan Sharp

o Suggested 8000000000 pounds Territorial Aims

o Alsace Lorraine to return to France o Poland to be created from Russian and German landso Rhineland buffer state to be created between France and Germanyo French colonies to be carved from Ottoman territory o Manoeuvred Wilson into supporting a 15 year Allied occupation of the Rhineland o Did not seek to break up Germany

OUTCOME

Failed to gain his goal of security

France was also offered an Anglo- American guarantee of support should Germany ever invade France again

Achieved both parts of strategy – Allied evacuation dependent on German execution of the treaty + concessions. Either Germans would fulfil obligations under treaty or the French government could continue to extend Rhineland occupation

I have the 15 years. I now consider that the peace is made.