Chapter 689 Fighting Fire with Fire
When U.S. President Wilson arrived in Paris, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Nicholas Jr. had been arguing for more than half a month over dividing the fruits of victory.
The result of more than half a month is that each party knows the other's requirements.
France wants Alsace and Lorraine, as well as the Saar region, and also wants to cede the east bank of the Rhine.
Russia wants Galicia and Jutland.
Britain wanted German colonies in Africa.
After Wilson came to Paris, he immediately threw out a big idea: the establishment of the League of Nations.
Wilson claimed that the purpose of the League of Nations was to resolve disputes through negotiation.
In fact, it hopes to expand the international influence of the United States through the League of Nations.
Compared with Britain, France and Russia, Wilson was indeed a bit isolated.
The Commonwealth is a bunch of countries, India, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc.
A large group of Russian brothers, not to mention East India and Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Japan and other countries also made great contributions to the world war and all have a certain say.
Because France has no younger brother, it holds high the banner of independence and attracts a lot of countries that want to find a younger brother to move closer to France.
There are also some regions that hope to win independent status through the Paris Peace Conference, and also hope to receive support from France.
Wilson is facing this situation now.
If this situation is not broken, the United States will have no right to speak.
When Wilson proposed the League of Nations, he was opposed and ridiculed by Lloyd George and Clemenceau.
The League of Nations wanted all countries to send representatives to discuss and resolve international disputes.
This idea is a good one.
Why should we bring a large group of people together to discuss something that can be solved by two or three people behind closed doors?
Wilson was too naive and actually used things invented by Europeans to deceive Europeans. He also did not take European wisdom seriously.
Lloyd George and Clemenceau were both arrogant people, and they dug a hole for Wilson with just a roll of their eyes.
Since it was Wilson who proposed the establishment of the League of Nations.
Then Wilson will be responsible for the preparation.
Since all countries can participate in the League of Nations, representatives from all countries should sit together and discuss a charter first.
Wilson didn't know enough about the insidiousness of old Europe, so he threw himself into this job with enthusiasm, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.
It cannot be said that there has been no progress at all this month.
At least all countries have reached a consensus, that is, the necessity of establishing the League of Nations.
But Wilson encountered unprecedented resistance in the League of Nations' organizational structure and operating model.
Wilson's idea was that if conflicts were encountered, they would be resolved by voting.
Dejan, who represented the Grand Duchy of Yuriev at the meeting, asked a question: How will the votes be counted?
The ideal situation is definitely one country, one vote.
But this is impossible. Can the vote of the Abyssinian Empire (Ethiopia) be the same as the vote of the British Prime Minister?
How about Abyssinia counts one vote and Britain counts two votes?
This is unfair to Hongguoguo.
What if one day Abyssinia becomes stronger and Britain becomes weaker, will the situation be reversed?
You can’t live like this when playing house.
For a whole month, Wilson did not even resolve the issue of voting.
Looking back, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Nicholas Jr. were hiding in the small dark room of the Palace of Versailles, and they had already begun discussing the carving up of German colonies in Africa.
Wilson woke up from his dream and asked Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Nicholas the Younger to also participate in the preparations for the League of Nations.
Little Nicholas was the most straightforward: "I would rather go to the theater to see White Thighs than argue with those people."
Lloyd George and Clemenceau rolled their eyes, how can you tell the truth? came out.
Wilson was angry and felt that Lloyd George and Clemenceau did not give him enough respect.
Clemenceau, nicknamed "Tiger", ignored Wilson and was impressed by the conduct of Americans during the world wars.
In the early days of the world war, the Americans made a lot of money under the banner of "free trade" and jumped from a debtor country to a creditor country. Until they couldn't squeeze out more money, they went out to grab the last copper coin themselves.
Only Americans have the nerve to call themselves "saviors". They really have no shame at all.
The behavior of the United States when it entered the war was equally disgraceful. A million troops went to Europe empty-handed to carry out a new round of blackmail against Britain and France.
Pershing did not allow the U.S. military to participate in the war for up to a year on the grounds that the U.S. military needed training. It was not until the German army was about to break through the British and French allied defense lines that Pershing had to commit the U.S. military to combat.
The world war lasted for four years and caused serious damage to the French economy.
After the Americans came to France, they were like bulls breaking into a china shop. They not only brought the Spanish Flu, but also left countless seeds.
Although Clemenceau required that restaurants in Paris must provide the same service to everyone, there were still Parisian restaurants that refused to serve Americans.
Even special workers, known for not being picky eaters, refused to serve Americans.
Clemenceau is a typical person who uses people to face the front and does not use people to face the back.
When the French army needed American troops, Clemenceau praised Pershing to the heavens and called Pershing the savior of France.
After Germany surrendered, Clemenceau did not even give face to the president of the United States.
Just after Wilson proposed the League of Nations, French newspapers described Wilson as "a toad trying to eat the flesh of a swan."
Compared with Clemenceau, Lloyd George, who was a lawyer, was better at communication.
"Your Excellency, it is officially because of my respect for you and the importance of the League of Nations that I put you in charge of our top priority."
"Since the League of Nations is so important, everyone Everyone should participate in it.”
Wilson was also a lawyer. He was an extremely confident idealist and hoped to use the League of Nations to break the international system dominated by Britain and France. "The problem of boiling should be solved by boiling -"
Little Nicholas' words cheered Wilson up.
"——Those who agree that President Wilson should continue to be in charge of this matter raise their hands."
Little Nicholas's second sentence made Wilson furious.
“As it should be!”
Lloyd George raised his hand first.
Clemenceau laughed and raised his hand.
Before little Nicholas could raise his hand, Wilson broke through the defense.
“If you treat my request with this attitude, the United States will withdraw from the negotiations.”
After Clemenceau, the second person who clamored to withdraw finally appeared. .
Although Germany has surrendered, U.S. troops are still arriving in Europe. The number of U.S. troops in France now reaches 2 million.
Wilson withdraws, what will happen to the two million American troops?
It is easy to invite God but difficult to send away.
Wilson didn’t really want to quit, he was just threatening to quit.
So the next day, Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and the yawning little Nicholas appeared at the preparatory meeting of the League of Nations.
When there are more people here, even if they are all elites, it will be as lively as a vegetable market.
The venue was chaotic and disorderly. Italian Prime Minister Orlando, who was presiding over the meeting, was about to break his hammer, but no one paid any attention to him.
The performance of the Italian army in the World War does not deserve respect.
With the arrival of winter, the reconstruction work of St. Petersburg came to an end, and George asked Alexander to follow little Nicholas to gain experience.
"Gentlemen, be quiet, we are going to have a meeting——"
Orlando shouted from the podium, scratching his neck.
Lloyd George was chatting in a low voice with Young Smuts, a Boer general born in South Africa.
Clemenceau was greeting acquaintances in his loud voice.
Wilson crossed his arms and sneered, now you guys finally know what I have been through.
Alexander secretly poked little Nicholas to remind him not to sleep.
Prince Stowe, who came to the meeting on behalf of the Kingdom of Montenegro, came over to greet Alexander and said that there was a magical performance in Paris these two days and that he would take Alexander to see it in the evening.
Alexander’s horizons were indeed opened.
This is the stage for elites.
Seeing that Orlando could not maintain order at all, Clemenceau slammed the table and yelled: "Shut up!"
Alexander was speechless.
You were the loudest just now.
Clemenceau still has prestige, and the venue immediately became so quiet that you could hear your heartbeat.
“Ah——”
Little Nicholas stretched his waist, and his yawn at this time was as loud as he wanted.
Alexander covered his face, feeling a little embarrassed, and wanted to sit over with Polis.
George doesn't have to come.
Polis has to come.
This time Polis asked for a lot, not only Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also Croatia and Slovenia.
It’s okay not to give it. First, support a few countries in the above-mentioned areas, and then vote in a referendum to annex them openly. No one can find fault with the procedure.
Dejan also wanted a lot. He and Sultan Lisa of Aceh not only wanted German colonies in the Pacific, but also completed the tasks assigned by George and expanded their power to the Red Sea coast.
Without access to the Black Sea, the Russian people were worried and had trouble sleeping and eating.
After gaining access to the Black Sea, the Russians began to talk about the Suez Canal again, and their desires were hard to fill.
"Gentlemen, we will now begin the 65th discussion——"
Orlando followed the procedure.
Alexander frowned, this was the 65th time we discussed it, what was going on?
There is a stack of documents on the table in front of Alexander, which is about the charter of the League of Nations.
“Okay, let’s not discuss it anymore, let’s start voting now.”
When it comes to cooking, the French are the experts.
“Don’t you even take a look at the contents of the document?”
Wilson reminded Clemenceau not to regret it after voting.
"Ha——"
Clemenceau smiled and told Wilson and Alexander with actions how to play.
“——The content is not suitable and can be modified until it is suitable.”
I won’t say what Wilson thinks.
Alexander was enlightened.
It's a good problem that can be solved using the method of cooking.
(End of this chapter)