The Versailles Project

The Versailles Project 2003

   

   

Serbian Success but Serbian Scandal?

The Serbian delegation

Serbia entered the conference room determined to achieve their central goal, the unification of all Slavic people under a greater nation. She wanted to gain the Slavic lands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, self-determination for all Slavs, the Port of Trieste and for the German Kaiser to stand trial. And she did just that.

Her first attempt to gain the Port of Trieste was a failure, mainly due to poor timing, as Italy was determined to gain the same port and managed to convince the others to abstain. However, after numerous secret discussions between civil servants, Serbia was able to obtain this port and the whole Dalmatian coast, though allowing the construction of Italian naval bases.

The odd thing is, the Dalmatian coast is a challenging area to navigate, and the formation of ports other than Trieste would be a difficult task. Either the Serbian civil servants were highly trained and manipulative, or the matter resolved it in another fashion.

Serbian civil servant attacks her Italian counterpart 

Even though Serbia managed to accomplish all of her goals, one wonders if they were all done so fairly through peaceful negotiations, of if she had another form of strategy, one centred around violence and threats.

Secret dealings with the French

 

Serbs making rude gestures across the negotiations table