IB HISTORY PAPER 1 PRESCRIBED TOPIC PEACEMAKING AND PEACEKEEPING 1919 - 1936
This Source Paper focuses on the Treaty of Versailles and the aims of the main powers.
Source A
Raymond Poincare diary entry (14th March, 1919) Today Clemenceau is angry with the English, and especially with Lloyd George. -I won't budge," he said, - I will act like a hedgehog and wait until they come to talk to me. I will yield nothing. We will see if they can manage without me. Lloyd George is a trickster. He has managed to turn me into a "Syrian". I don't like being double-crossed. Lloyd George has deceived me. He made me the finest promises, and now he breaks them. Fortunately, I think that at the moment we can count on American support. What is the worst of all is that the day before yesterday, Lloyd George said to me. "Well, now that we are going to disarm Germany, you no longer need the Rhine". I said to Clemenceau: " Does disarmament then seem to him to give the same guarantees? Does he think that, in the future, we can be sure of preventing Germany from rebuilding her army?" "We are in complete agreement," said Clemenceau; " it is a point I will not yield."
Source B
Georges Clemenceau, in conversation with General Mordacq (15th April 1919) In the last three days, we have worked well. All the great issues of concern to France are almost settled. Yesterday, as well as the two treaties giving us the military support of Britain and the United States in case of a German attack, I obtained the occupation of the Rhineland for fifteen years, with partial evacuation after five years. If Germany does not fulfil the treaty, there will be no evacuation either partial or definitive. At last I am no longer anxious. I have obtained almost everything I wanted.
Source C
David Lloyd George, The Truth About the Peace Treaties (1938) There never was a greater contrast, mental or spiritual, than that which existed between these two notable men. Wilson with his high but narrow brow, his fine head with its elevated crown and his dreamy but untrustful eye - the make-up of the idealist who is also something of an egoist; Clemenceau, with a powerful head and the square brow of the logician - the head conspicuously flat topped, with no upper storey in which to lodge the humanities, the ever vigilant and fierce eye of the animal who has hunted and been hunted all his life. The idealist amused him so long as he did not insist on incorporating his dreams in a Treaty which Clemenceau had to sign.
It was part of the real joy of these Conferences to observe Clemenceau's attitude towards Wilson during the first five weeks of the Conference. He listened with eyes and ears lest Wilson should by a phrase commit the Conference to some proposition which weakened the settlement from the French standpoint.
Source D From Punch (a British Political magazine) published in 1919
Source E
A. J. Grant & Harold Temperley, Europe in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (1952) Lloyd George had no thought of exacting impossible amounts of reparation from Germany. "Was it sensible," he said later, "to treat her as a cow from which to extract milk and beef at the same time?" But he was hampered by the ferocious demands of the British public, by the cries of "hanging the Kaiser" and "squeezing Germany till the pips squeak". At the most crucial moment of the peace negotiations Lloyd George was confronted by a telegram from 370 Members of Parliament demanding the he should make Germany pay. Of course he had to capitulate, and he replied that he would keep his pledge. What else could he do? If it was possible to produce an arrangement such people would accept, it was not likely to be a considered one or a wise one. It is probably true to say that, in so far as Lloyd George had a bad influence on the Treaty, it was because he faithfully reflected these forces.
If these were the difficulties created for Lloyd George at home, they were equally great abroad. He had to reconcile two colleagues, one of whom wanted a peace to be based almost wholly on force, and the other a peace based almost wholly on idealism. Lloyd George had to adjust the two points of view, and the task was inconceivably difficult. It meant self-effacement on his part, sacrifice of his pledges, of his consistency, sometimes even of his dignity. Yet he succeeded in many instances. There are points in which he is liable to severe criticism. But this fact should not exclude the services which his inconceivable adroitness and flexibility rendered to the common cause. It cannot be said that he neglected any purely British interests. The charge that will lie against him in history is that he neglected nobler and more universal interests.
Questions
1) a) Identify the key points made in Source B by Clemenceau about what has been agreed at the Peace Conference (3 Marks)
b) What message is conveyed in Source D (2 Marks)
2) How far are the views expressed by Poincare in Source A about the progress of the Paris Peace conference supported by Source B and Source C? (6 Marks)
3) With reference to their origin, purpose discuss the value and limitations of sources A and D to an historian studying the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. (6 Marks)
4) Using these sources and your own knowledge to what extent do you agree with the view that the Treaty of Versailles was weakened by the French desire for revenge? (8 Marks)
IB HISTORY PAPER 1 PRESCRIBED TOPIC PEACEMAKING AND PEACEKEEPING 1919 - 1936
This source paper focuses on the setting up of the League of Nations
Source A
President Woodrow Wilson, speech on the League of Nations (8th September, 1919) For the first time in history the counsels of mankind are to be drawn together and concerted for the purpose of defending the rights and improving the conditions of working people - men, women, and children - all over the world. Such a thing as that was never dreamed of before, and what you are asked to discuss in discussing the League of Nations is the matter of seeing that this thing is not interfered with. There is no other way to do it than by a universal league of nations, and what is proposed is a universal league of nations.
Only two nations are for the time being left out. One of them is Germany, because we did not think that Germany was ready to come in, because we felt that she ought to go through a period of probation. She says that she made a mistake. We now want her to prove it by not trying it again. She says that she has abolished all the old forms of government by which little secret councils of men, sitting nobody knew exactly where, determined the fortunes of that great nation and, incidentally, tried to determine the fortunes of mankind; but we want her to prove that her constitution is changed and that it is going to stay changed; and then who can, after those proofs are produced, say "No" to a great people, 60 million strong, if they want to come in on equal terms with the rest of us and do justice in international affairs?
Source B
Lee Smith, speech in the House of Commons (21st October 1916)
Security can only be obtained by a scheme by which the nations of Europe and outside agree together that all will guarantee each and each will guarantee all. The purposes of the war will be achieved if there is a League of Nations with an absolute and decisive veto upon any mere aggression, and consideration of any legitimate claims which any of the countries engaged in the War may be able to make good. Go back to the old Liberal tradition and trust yourself boldly to those decent, kindly, humane forces to be found in every man and every nation.
Source C
Arthur Balfour, chief British representative at the League of Nations, speaking in 1920
The League of Nations is not set up to deal with a world in chaos, or with any part of the world which is in chaos. The League of Nations may give assistance but it is not, and cannot be a complete instrument for bringing order out of chaos.
Source D
A cartoon from Punch magazine, December 1919
Source E From an American Newspaper 1919
Questions
1 a) Identify the key points in Source B about how the League of Nations would promote security (3 Marks)
b) What message is conveyed in Source E (2 Marks)
2) How far are the views expressed by Wilson in Source A about the League of Nations supported by Source B and Source C? (6 Marks)
3) With reference to their origin, purpose discuss the value and limitations of sources D and E to an historian studying the importance of the League of Nations. (6 Marks)
4) Using these sources and your own knowledge to what extent do you agree with the view that the League of Nations was weakened by lack of US support? (8 Marks)
IB HISTORY PAPER 1 PRESCRIBED TOPIC PEACEMAKING AND PEACEKEEPING 1919 - 1936
This source paper focuses on the work of the League of Nations and the Ruhr Crisis in the 1920s .
Source A
Morgan Philips Price, My Three Revolutions (1969)
The French occupation of the Ruhr had swung German opinion to the Right. That encouraged Hitler and his Fascists in Bavaria and, on November 9th, they struck and tried a coup from the Right. But the Government of the Republic in Berlin at last acted against the Right also. Ludendorff and Hitler escaped and hid, while fourteen of their followers were killed. The stabilization of German currency followed with financial help from America, and things temporarily got on an even keel again. Here I end my story, for I am only relating what I saw and experienced in Germany and from now on I saw and experienced no more.
Source B
Gustav Stresemann, diary entry (19th July, 1925)
Peace between France and Germany is not merely a Franco-German but a European affair. The last world War in my opinion produced no victors who could rejoice in their victory. The War, and the continuation of the War by other means, were responsible for social, political, and economic upheavals in Europe which have directly confronted the older civilized nations with the question of their future material existence. In the debates that recently took place in this honourable House, you have discussed a problem that is one of the effects of the War on Europe, not merely on Germany, namely the problem how to relieve by any public measures those who have been proletarianized by the collapse of currency and trade. They were, not merely in this country but in others, the supporters of the idea of the State, the most steadfast pillars of the present order. The collapse of the currency has spread from East to West, and has hitherto not stopped at any national frontier. I do not belong to those who expect any advantages for Germany from the continuance of this currency fall in France. I can envisage no political or even economic advantages if this fall goes on. Still less do I share the opinion which seemed to be implicit in an interjection at the beginning of my remarks, to the effect that the position of France as a Great Power, which she held after the Peace of Versailles, can be permanently shaken.
Source C
A German woman describes her problems in 1923: from Vernon Bartlett, Nazi Germany explained.
People coming from the bank with millions of paper marks in suitcases or wheelbarrows. People paying for seats at a theatre with eggs or pats of butter. Money that lost half its value in 12 hours. People who had been wealthy trying to sell watches or jewellery for food or articles instead of that hated money. A woman I knew had saved year by year, to assure her son’s welfare. Her capital would have bought enough furniture for a decent house. Three months later it would not pay her tram fare.
An Englishman who before the war had lent 6000 pounds in marks; when they were repaid, they were worth 87 pence in English money. The middle class was wiped out in a matter of weeks.
Source D A German cartoon of 1923. The woman represents France. The text reads ‘ Hands off the Ruhr’.
Questions
1) a) Identify the key effects of the Ruhr occupation given in Source A (3 Marks)
b) What message is conveyed in Source D? (2 Marks)
2) How far are the views expressed by A supported by Source C and Source D? (6 Marks)
3) With reference to their origin, purpose discuss the value and limitations of sources B and D to an historian studying the Ruhr crisis. (6 Marks)
IB HISTORY PAPER 1 PRESCRIBED TOPIC PEACEMAKING AND PEACEKEEPING 1919 - 1936
This source paper focuses on the Europe and the Locarno treaties in the 1920s
Source A Winston Churchill writing about the 1920s in 1949
Although old antagonisms were but sleeping, and the drumbeat of new levies was already heard, we were justified in hoping that the ground thus solidly gained would open the road to a further forward march….A friendly feeling existed toward Germany following upon our Treaty of Locarno, and the evacuation of the Rhineland by the French Army at a much earlier date than had been prescribed at Versailles.
Source B Sally Marks the historian writing in 1976
A few men knew that the spirit of Locarno was a fragile foundation on which to build a lasting peace. After all the real spirit of Locarno, behind the façade of public fellowship, was one of bitter confrontation between a fearful France flanked by the unhappy East Europeans, trying to hide their humiliation and panic, and a resentful, revisionist Germany demanding even more alterations to the balance of power to her benefit. … Of all the interwar years these were perhaps the best years but nonetheless they were years of illusion.