notes, as does other writers in this field, that the chief architects instrumental in designing this peace deal – a deal which bashed Germany on the face and left her drop on a myriad of problems, acted so on pressure from the electorates of their respective nations. George Clemenceau- the French Prime Minister, Woodrow Wilson-the American President Vittorio Orlando-the Italian Prime Minister and David Lloyd- the British Prime Minister were the four members of council that deliberated on the peace deal. It is important to point out that Germany was excluded from the talks and their fate was determined by the council of four2.
Kitchen seems to employ a neutral ground rather than that of criticism in his articulation of facts and opinions. He appears not to be holding belligerent views with other writers on this topic but instead, concurs to a larger extent with what is in other texts. His focus is on a sober audience who intends to find out historical facts free from personal prejudice and judgment, something, which I believe, is the underlying drive for this work. One exception though, he doesn’t seem to agree with those who are quick to blame the Versailles treaty as the direct cause of world war two. He instead has Hitler and his limitless ambitions to blame.
The culmination of the bloody war which had far reaching effects on nations and humanity, which defied definitive calculation, came to a halt with the signing of the peace agreement on 28th of June 1919 in Paris, France. This was the peace treaty with Germany.3 Best 1984 p2 ,points out that there were other lesser treaties with Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. The former, he confirms, was crafted by the four council members while the latter was left to the government officials and inter-Allied agencies.
What then were the outcomes of the Versailles Treaty? There is a general consensus in the works of many writers that the end result of the treaty was nothing to be desired by the Germans.