Guilt At Versailles; Lloyd George and the Pre-history of Appeasement

by Antony Lentin

Book Overview

An important book on Woodrow Wilson. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0416411304
• ISBN13: 9780416411300
• Release Date: October 1985
• Publisher: Methuen Publishing Ltd
• Length: 193 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A good inside look at all of the major players in Paris

So, you think you know everything there is about one of the worst treaties ever written? For anyone interested in the Treaty of Versailles, and how we got it, "Guilt at Versailles: Lloyd George and the Pre-History of Appeasement" is your book. Of course, the big three (Wilson, Lloyd George, and Clemenceau) are discussed in considerable detail. However, what we also get are the way they (especially the later two) manipulated public opinion in their own countries, and were also directed by the press (especially in the case of Lloyd George in the persona of Northcliff.) Lloyd George also was under pressure from representatives from Australia (Prime Minister Hughes) and South Africa (Jan Smuts) to get reparations, the result of which was the infamous "war guilt" clause. Wilson came in with a completely different set of problems. He came in as the idealist, with the Fourteen Points, nearly every one of which were under fire from the Europeans (adding Orlando of Italy to the French and British leaders). After several months of wrangling, Wilson had to give up on many of his precious ideals. Also troubling Wilson was the loss in the 1918 mid-term elections, which brought a Republican majority to Congress. This book also looks at the variety of advisors (mostly for Lloyd George and Wilson) as well as Lloyd George's sometimes contentious relationship with the House of Commons. One can't help but come away from this book with a better understanding of the Treaty and the notion of Realpolitik. THis is really a political history of the Treaty more than anything else. The writing is well done and a valuable collection to any library of the World War as well as political history.