A successful quest – France’s gains and losses

The French delegation

France’s motion to regain the regions of Alsace and Lorraine that had been lost to her since the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 to 71 did not come as a surprise. In fact, it was a unanimous vote, a positive start to a long morning of re-drawing Europe.

Clemenceau did not get the massive reparations the French people wanted, but he supported the successful Serbian proposition of proportional reparations within German capacity. Though careful to remain ever the third party and not lose support with selfish aims, France was finally able to break up Germany into 3 small states, give much land to a very grateful Poland and disperse the German navy among the Allies powers, though a later American motion guaranteed disarmament.

The French Prime Minister also achieved “self-determination” for all of the peoples of Austria-Hungary, except, of course, those of Trieste and the now Italian naval bases along the Dalmatian coast.

Inside information revealed that the 3^rd aim of the French delegation was to create a war guilt clause that would place all of the blame for causing the Great War on the shoulders of Germany and the other Central Powers. However, Great Britain’s successful motion to try the Kaiser and the German military heads in an international court of law seemed to appease the French.

The secret dealings

The motions of other nations that France pledged to support and were successfully passed included the creation of “Yugoslavia” (a greater Serbia including the Dalmatian coast), the expansion of Italian borders (though this was limited to naval bases along the Dalmatian coast), the expansion of Poland to guarantee its alliance and to surround was is left of Germany, the confiscation of the German fleet (originally to give to Great Britain, though it was concluded to be split up according to need) and, ranking as least important, the creation of the League of Nations.

The only aims Clemenceau did not get passed were the ownership of German industrial areas (including a tax to repay war debts), giving Great Britain and Italy Germany’s colonies and setting up a trade route through France for American use, for a price, of course.

A French delegate known only as “Henri” was the most persuasive and active speaker for France, and came to be as “The Kitten behind The Tiger”. It is believed among the press that should he run for the position of Prime Minister at the next French elections, he would surely oust the present Prime Minister, Georges “Julien” Clemenceau.