What Did the Big Three Want?

The "Big Three," comprising Woodrow Wilson of the United States, David Lloyd George of Great Britain, and Georges Clemenceau of France, largely convened after World War I with a shared, overarching goal: to prevent a similar devastating conflict from ever happening again. However, despite this common aim, they held vastly different ideas on how to achieve lasting peace and what the post-war world should look like. These divergent perspectives often led to disagreements, as each leader had specific national interests and experiences shaping their demands from the peace settlement.

The Overarching Goal: Preventing Future Wars

At the heart of the Big Three's discussions was the fervent desire to ensure that the horrors of the First World War would never be repeated. They aimed to establish a new international order that would guarantee long-term stability and avert future global conflicts. Yet, the path to this shared objective was fraught with disagreement, as their individual nations had endured different levels of suffering and held distinct priorities for the peace.

Diverse Visions for Peace and Security

While committed to preventing future wars, the leaders of the United States, Britain, and France pursued their own national interests and ideological convictions. These differences significantly influenced the negotiations, particularly concerning the treatment of Germany and the structure of international relations.

Here's a breakdown of what each member of the Big Three primarily wanted:

Leader	Nation	Primary Aims	Key Strategies & Priorities
Woodrow Wilson	United States	To establish a lasting peace based on international cooperation and moral principles, rather than retribution.	Primarily advocated for his Fourteen Points, emphasizing: The creation of a League of Nations for collective security. Self-determination for nations. Open diplomacy and freedom of the seas. General disarmament. A relatively lenient peace for Germany to avoid future resentment.
David Lloyd George	Great Britain	To secure British imperial interests and ensure its economic stability, while also preventing Germany from becoming a future threat.	Sought a middle ground between French harshness and American idealism: Maintain British naval supremacy and expand the Empire (e.g., German colonies). Revive international trade, including with Germany, to restore Britain's economy. Punish Germany enough to satisfy public opinion but not so severely as to provoke another war or foster communism. Moderate reparations.
Georges Clemenceau	France	To ensure France's security from future German aggression and exact significant reparations for the devastation inflicted upon his country.	Demanded a harsh and punitive peace against Germany: Massive reparations to rebuild France and cripple the German economy. Significant military and territorial restrictions on Germany (e.g., demilitarization of the Rhineland). Return of Alsace-Lorraine to France. A strong buffer against Germany to prevent future invasions. France's security was his paramount concern.

The Outcome of Conflicting Desires

The differing objectives of Wilson, Lloyd George, and Clemenceau meant that the final peace settlement, most notably the Treaty of Versailles, was a series of compromises. While the Big Three successfully created a framework for international cooperation (the League of Nations), the punitive measures imposed on Germany, largely driven by French demands and British appeasement, contributed to future instability, ultimately failing to achieve the lasting peace all three men initially desired.

[[Post-WWI Diplomacy]]