What were the different aims of the big three at Versailles?

Answer 1

France - Wanted Revenge because of the fact that Germany had invaded them 40 years previous to World War One.

America - wanted peace.

Britain - wanted justice, not revenge. Believed that some element of peace should be kept but went around winning elections under the subterfuge of making Germany pay.

Answer 2

George Clemenceau of France wanted to take revenge against Germany and punish it harshly. This is because Germany had invaded France in the First World War and caused it to lose two thirds of its army.

He wanted Germany to pay for all the damage it had caused in the First World War.

He wanted to weaken Germany so it could not invade France again.

He argued with Lloyd George of Britain and Wilson of the USA because they both were far away from Germany and therefore protected but France was not protected.

Woodrow Wilson of USA wanted to punish Germany but not too harshly and make a fair peace.

He wanted to keep the world safe and to disarm Germany so that they could settle their disputes without violence.

He also wanted to create a League of Nations that could judge and settle disputes between countries. He asked Clemenceau to make the punishment of Germany 'moderate'.

David Lloyd George of Britain wanted to punish Germany but not too harshly. He wanted 'justice' but not 'revenge'. Punishing Germany too harshly may cause wars with Germany in the future when they recover from their punishment. He wanted Germany to pay for the entire cost of the war. He also wanted to increase Britain's trade and maintain British control of the seas and expand the British Empire. He wanted to reduce Germany's navy because he thought they were a threat to the British navies.