Lloyd George |
Lloyd George of England was largely dissatisfied by the Treaty. He liked the reduction of the German navy, for it ensured that Britannia ruled the waves. He also liked being given German colonies as mandates. But he thought Wilson’s League of Nations was a ‘dead duck’, he opposed self-determination and was sure that putting 3½ million Germans into Czechoslovakia would caused great problems there. And, although he, too, had promised to ‘make Germany pay’, he was horrified when he learned what Clemenceau wanted. He opposed Clemenceau’s harshness. In the end, Clemenceau wanted revenge against the Germans, and Wilson was prepared to sacrifice them to principle, so it was Lloyd George who fought most for Germany’s interests at the Conference. When the Treaty was eventually signed, the British delegates were very depressed. Harold Nicholson thought the Treaty ‘neither just nor wise’, and Lloyd George declared: ‘we will have to fight another war in 25 years time, and at three times the cost’.
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An Open Letter to the British People
By David Lloyd George, June 1919
My Fellow Britons,
With the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, we have reached the end of a war that has scarred the world and our nation. After four years of sacrifice and hardship, Britain stands victorious, and we can take pride in the role we played in securing peace. However, as we turn from war to the task of building the future, I want to speak plainly about what this treaty means for us, and for Europe.
We have achieved significant gains for Britain. Germany, once a threat to our security and to peace in Europe, has been disarmed, and its fleet—the rival to our navy—has been broken. We have secured the safety of our empire, and new mandates in the Middle East will expand our influence in key regions. Crucially, reparations will be paid by Germany, which will help to rebuild the economies devastated by this war—including our own. The damage done to Belgium, France, and beyond must be addressed, and it is only right that Germany bears the cost of its actions.
Yet, while Germany must pay for the destruction it has caused, we must be careful not to cripple it completely. Some wanted harsher terms, even the permanent weakening of Germany’s economy and the creation of an independent Rhineland. I understand the desire for such measures, but we must think of the future. Germany cannot be left so weak that it falls into chaos and becomes vulnerable to the dangers of communism. If Germany is left in ruins, it could easily succumb to Bolshevism, creating an even greater threat to Europe and to Britain.
Moreover, a Germany left permanently broken would do little for our own prosperity. Britain relies on trade, and a shattered Europe cannot be a stable partner. A strong, stable Germany is essential for the revival of European trade, which is in Britain’s economic interest. If Germany remains too weak to recover, it will drag down the entire continent with it, creating instability that threatens the peace we have fought so hard to secure. We need a Europe that can rebuild and thrive, for our own prosperity depends on it.
That is why the treaty strikes a balance. The Rhineland will be demilitarized, ensuring the safety of France, but it will not be separated entirely from Germany. Germany will pay reparations, but it will not be crippled to the point where it cannot recover. A strong, peaceful Europe is in all our interests—both to prevent the rise of extremism and to ensure that trade can flourish once again.
Now, we must turn to the task of rebuilding Britain. Our soldiers are returning, and we must ensure they are given the opportunities and support they deserve. We must revive our industries, restore our economy, and pay down our war debts. The road ahead will be difficult, but Britain’s future remains bright. We have preserved our place as a global power, and our empire remains secure.
We have won the war, and now we must win the peace. Together, we will face the challenges ahead, confident in Britain’s strength and determined to secure a stable, prosperous future for all.
Yours faithfully,
David Lloyd George
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
By David Lloyd George, June 1919
My Fellow Britons,
With the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, we have reached the end of a war that has scarred the world and our nation. After four years of sacrifice and hardship, Britain stands victorious, and we can take pride in the role we played in securing peace. However, as we turn from war to the task of building the future, I want to speak plainly about what this treaty means for us, and for Europe.
We have achieved significant gains for Britain. Germany, once a threat to our security and to peace in Europe, has been disarmed, and its fleet—the rival to our navy—has been broken. We have secured the safety of our empire, and new mandates in the Middle East will expand our influence in key regions. Crucially, reparations will be paid by Germany, which will help to rebuild the economies devastated by this war—including our own. The damage done to Belgium, France, and beyond must be addressed, and it is only right that Germany bears the cost of its actions.
Yet, while Germany must pay for the destruction it has caused, we must be careful not to cripple it completely. Some wanted harsher terms, even the permanent weakening of Germany’s economy and the creation of an independent Rhineland. I understand the desire for such measures, but we must think of the future. Germany cannot be left so weak that it falls into chaos and becomes vulnerable to the dangers of communism. If Germany is left in ruins, it could easily succumb to Bolshevism, creating an even greater threat to Europe and to Britain.
Moreover, a Germany left permanently broken would do little for our own prosperity. Britain relies on trade, and a shattered Europe cannot be a stable partner. A strong, stable Germany is essential for the revival of European trade, which is in Britain’s economic interest. If Germany remains too weak to recover, it will drag down the entire continent with it, creating instability that threatens the peace we have fought so hard to secure. We need a Europe that can rebuild and thrive, for our own prosperity depends on it.
That is why the treaty strikes a balance. The Rhineland will be demilitarized, ensuring the safety of France, but it will not be separated entirely from Germany. Germany will pay reparations, but it will not be crippled to the point where it cannot recover. A strong, peaceful Europe is in all our interests—both to prevent the rise of extremism and to ensure that trade can flourish once again.
Now, we must turn to the task of rebuilding Britain. Our soldiers are returning, and we must ensure they are given the opportunities and support they deserve. We must revive our industries, restore our economy, and pay down our war debts. The road ahead will be difficult, but Britain’s future remains bright. We have preserved our place as a global power, and our empire remains secure.
We have won the war, and now we must win the peace. Together, we will face the challenges ahead, confident in Britain’s strength and determined to secure a stable, prosperous future for all.
Yours faithfully,
David Lloyd George
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom