WORLD HISTORY: AFTERMATH OF FIRST WORLD WAR – Part 5
VERDICT ON THE PEACE SETTLEMENT
The peace treaties were not a success.
This is evident from the following:
- It divided Europe into the states which wanted to revise the settlement, and those which wanted to preserve it.
- The USA failed to ratify the settlement and never joined the League of Nations.
- France was disenchanted after non ratification by US as Anglo-American guarantee of her frontiers given the agreement could not now apply.
- Italy felt cheated because she had not received all the territory promised.
- Russia was ignored as the powers did not want to negotiate with its Bolshevik govt.
- Germany was only temporarily weakened and was soon strong enough to challenge the terms of the settlement.
