The Paris Peace Conference

What was the Paris Peace Conference?

In 1919, representatives from around the world gathered to discuss the terms of peace after the First World War. They met in the Palace of Versailles, just outside the centre of Paris.

Which treaties were decided at the Paris Peace Conference?

5 treaties were decided at the Paris Peace Conference, and 1 treaty agreed later on. They included:

• ❖ The Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919, and officially ended the war between the Allies and Germany.
• ❖ The Treaty of St Germain was signed in September 1919, and officially ended the war between the Allies and Austria.
• ❖ The Treaty of Neuilly was signed in November 1919, and officially ended the war between the Allies and Bulgaria.
• ❖ The Treaty of Trianon was signed in June 1920, and officially ended the war between the Allies and Hungary.
• ❖ The Treaty of Sevres was signed in August 1920, and officially ended the war between the Allies and Turkey.
• ❖ The Treaty of Lausanne was a renegotiation of the Treaty of Sevres and was signed in June 1923 between Turkey and representatives of Britain, France and several associated powers. It was the only post-war treaty not to be decided at the Paris Peace Conference.

Who were the victors at the Paris Peace Conference?

Some nations arrived in Paris as the victors of the First World War, known collectively as 'the Allies'. The 5 main ones were:

• ❖ Britain.
• ❖ France.
• ❖ The USA.
• ❖ Italy.
• ❖ Japan.

Who were the losers at the Paris Peace Conference?

The losing nations were given few powers of negotiation at the Paris Peace Conference. They included:

• ❖ Germany.
• ❖ Austria-Hungary.
• ❖ Bulgaria.
• ❖ The Ottoman Empire (later Turkey).
• ❖ Russia had become a communist country and had surrendered to Germany in March 1918, so was not included in the peace talks.

Who attended the 1919 Paris Peace Conference?

Hundreds of important politicians travelled to Paris for the peace conference including:

• ❖ The conference was attended by representatives of 32 countries.
• ❖ Soviet Russia was excluded from the talks as it had left the war in March 1918 and already signed a peace treaty with Germany.
• ❖ The defeated nations were excluded from the talks and could not contribute to decisions.
• ❖ The most influential negotiators at the peace conference were the leaders of France, Britain and the USA. These became known as the 'Big Three'.

When was the Paris Peace Conference?

The Paris Peace Conference began on 18th January, 1919, and ended on 21st January, 1920.