This is a sildeshare about a conversation of the Big Three

1. ​ Conversation between David Lloyd George,
​Georges Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson.
By; Trinidad Porretti, Olivia Obligado, Sofia Mele and Facundo Vazquez Avila.
Woodrow Wilson;
He was the president of the US during WW1, he was born in 1856. He became
president in 1912 and was re­elected in 1916, from 1914­1917 his biggest focus was
to keep the US out of war. He created the “Fourteen points speech” with the purpose
of ending the war in a fair and peaceful way so that a future war could be avoided.
As for his personality, he was an idealist and a reformer, he was against corruption
in politics and business. Furthermore, he was obstinate and determined. He believed
that all the countries should have self ­determination and that the nations should
co­operate to achieve world peace. He thought that after WW1 Germany should be
punished, but not with a big and severe punishment.
David Lloyd George;
He was the prime minister of Great Britain during WW1, he was born in 1890. He
was prime minister of Britain from 1916 to 1922. He was realistic man, he was an
experienced and compromised politician. He occupied the middle ground between
the point of views of Wilson and Clemenceau, he was the mediator between them.
Georges Clemenceau;
He was the prime minister of France from 1906­1909 and he was re­elected again in
1917 to lead France through the last year of war, he was born in 1841. He was a
hard, tough and uncompromised politician. He was witness of both attacks from
Germany in the Franco­Prussian war (1870) and in WW1, and he was determined
not to allow such a devastation ever again. He wanted to cripple Germany after
WW1, he wanted Germany’s punishment to be really severe. As regards the Paris
Peace Conference he had a very subjective point of view. He always had an
enormous pressure from the French people who wanted a treaty that would punish
Germany as much as possible, just as he wanted.
Wilson­
Hello gentlemen, Georges Clemenceau­David Lloyd George, welcome to the Paris
Peace Conference. We are gathered here today to discuss our different points of
view about what you think your country should get as a compensation for war, your
opinion about the fourteen points and which punishment you think that Germany
should receive due to the damage she caused during the great war. In addition, I am
very glad to say that war is finally over.
Lloyd George­
Good evening, I agree with you Wilson, those three topics are really important to
debate. As you said, I’m also gratified that war has finished.

2. Clemenceau­
I have the same thoughts as you Wilson, we should definitely deliberate on those
matters.
W­
I believe that we should start arguing about what you think that each of our countries
should get as a compensation for war. I consider that the United States of America
should get a small amount of money because my people didn’t suffer so many
casualties as yours, I think that both Great Britain and France should get a bigger
compensation due to the fact that war didn’t take part in my country and my country
only participated two years of the great war. As opposed to you, war did take part in
your countries and you participated in it since its beginning until its end.
G­
You are right, our sacrifice and France’s was bigger than the one of United States.
Britain suffered over a million casualties, and the US number of casualties isn't even
close to a million. I think that my country deserves to be compensated with money,
and in addition, I want to have in my power all the naval possessions that Germany
has. Furthermore, I want Germany to begin trading with Great Britain again
W­
Lloyd George, I think that you are exaggerating. The whole German naval army is
really big, bigger than what your compensation should be. Germany won’t be able to
handle such a big loss, it's too hard for her if we add that to the punishment she will
receive.
C­
Certainly, you aren't putting yourself in our position Wilson. You don't know all the
losses we have suffered, your country has never suffered such a big damage as
ours. France is the country that suffered the biggest damage in its land, industry and
people, and in addition to that, has lost self­confidence, so it's the country that
should get the biggest compensation. Frankly I believe that France deserves to be
returned Alsace­Lorraine, I also want a treaty that will punish Germany and weaken
her as much as possible. And of course I want as a compensation an enormous
amount of money, because France needs it to recover from war.
G­
Okay, I agree with both of you in some point. We should definitely punish Germany,
but now I can realize that we shouldn’t be so hard on her. I think that all of our
thoughts of what each of the countries should get as a compensation are fair. Do you
agree with me?
W­
I do, I know that before I didn’t, but now I can understand. However, we shouldn’t
weaken her so much Clemenceau, because the bigger the punishment, the bigger
will be the anger and the desire of revenge that Germany will have, and if she
recovers from war, she can declare another war, and that is none of our desires.
Now, we should move to the second point, what do you think of the fourteen points?

3. I believe that all of them are completely fair for all of us, but I am open to any
suggestions or comments. The point that I believe is a priority is the fourteenth, it's
very important to set up a League of Nations, It's the only way we can build a safer,
more peaceful and fairer world.
G­
​I generally agree with all of them, there are some of them that I would modify, but I
can live with them. However, there are two special points which I don’t agree with,
point two, free access to the seas in peacetime or wartime. Great Britain has the
biggest naval force and this point might reduce her power overseas, and by that I am
protecting the British trade and the colonial empire. The other point I don’t agree with
is point ten; “Self­determination for the peoples of Eastern Europe”, because giving
them the opportunity to rule themselves means that Imperialism isn’t going to exist
any more, and I think that none of the empires will be happy with the extinction of
Imperialism. In addition, It's going to be really hard or even impossible to accomplish
all of the points, you are being too idealistic Wilson, but I am not insinuating that I
don’t agree with them.
W­
I may be idealistic, but what do we lose if we try? It's better to try and not miss a
single opportunity. I think that if we make a huge effort, we may succeed. Okay, I
understand you, I will eliminate point two and ten, I don’t want any other conflict
between empires.
C­
I have the same thoughts as Lloyd George, you are being very idealistic Wilson, it's
impossible to achieve all the points. But you are right, we lose nothing if we try. I also
believe that creating a League of Nations is really important and it is going to help us
in the future and solve some of the international issues. Setting up this League of
Nations is surely going to prevent a future war. But, as Lloyd George said, I disagree
with one point, point four. Not all the countries should get disarmed, only a few, and
mainly Germany. Without armaments we cannot protect our people from conflicts or
problems. Germany should be the country to be disarmed.
W­
Clemenceau, I know that disarmament has disadvantages, but it has advantages
too. Without armaments people feel safe, however we can take that point off the list
too. So now we should discuss the last point, Germany’s punishment. I think that we
should be careful about this matter, because if we are too hard on her, she may get
really angry and want to get revenge in the future, as I said before. If she recovers
from the damage of war, she may increase her power and strength and take revenge
on us, fighting harder than ever. I think that the fair punishment is for her to pay 25
billion dollars, which is the amount of money needed for the reparations, also I
believe that her army should be reduced to two hundred thousand soldiers so that
she doesn’t have enough soldiers to attack us again or invade us. In addition, we
shouldn’t allow her any longer to have submarines, U­boats, aircraft or battleships,

4. because those are her strong war aspects. Finally, we should strip from her
Alsace­Lorraine, Poland and her colony in China, Tsingtao, and we should
strengthen democracy and give self­determination to those countries, except for
Alsace­Lorraine which will be returned to France. Well, this is my opinion, what about
yours?
G­
I agree about that we shouldn’t be so hard on her because she used to be my
second largest trading partner and I hope that now that war is over she can assume
that position again. I also agree with your idea of her punishment, but it isn’t big
enough. I believe that, added to what you said, she has to pay 5 more billion dollars,
her army should be reduced to 150 thousand soldiers so that she can only use it for
small internal conflicts. In addition, we shouldn’t allow her any longer to have heavy
artillery or heavy military equipment. I think that we also should strip all her colonies
in the pacific and in Southwest Africa. In conclusion, this is my concept of a fair
punishment for Germany. Now, what do you think Georges?
C­
My idea of the punishment Germany should receive is definitely more severe than
yours. My people find Germany really threatening and I want to assure them that she
isn’t going to invade or attack us again and that she is going to pay for all the
damage she caused. I think that she should pay 35 billion dollars and her army
should be reduced to seventy thousand soldiers so that she won’t even place a foot
in any of our countries again. As regards the war equipment and the colonies, I
agree with your opinion David. The French people expected a bigger punishment,
but after hearing your opinions, I can realize that you are never going to agree with
their requests.
W­
All right, I can see that we have different points of view. Clearly, we should negotiate
a fair punishment for all of us. Georges, your concept of a punishment for Germany
is definitely really hard. I have thought of your opinions and considered them all and
finally get to a conclusion. She should pay 30 billion dollars, her army should be
reduced to 100.000 soldiers, she will not be allowed to posses any longer aircraft,
any kind of heavy military equipment or artillery, U­boats, submarines and
battleships. Do you think this punishment is fair, considering all of our opinions?
C­
That wasn’t my idea, but it is fair taking into count all of our opinions. What about you
David?
G­
Yes I do, I think that that is the fairer and perfect punishment for Germany.
W­
Gentlemen, I am grateful that we have reached to an agreement. Thank you for
presenting all of your ideas. I hope that your countries can have a fast recovery.
Cheers for us all!

5. G­
Thank you for such a wonderful evening, I am very glad too that we could get to an
agreement.
C​­
Even If I am not so pleased with the results of the German punishments, I am really
happy that this conference is finally over and we could get to a conclusion. I hope
Germany signs the treaty.