System wersalski - geneza i charakter

Abstract

Several important problems among those which contributed to the genesis and functioning of the system called afterwards the Versailles one, which became a base for the order obligatory in the interwar period, seem to deserve consideration. One must mention here the purposes of the contending parties and their evolution during the war thanks to the change of the position of forces. The next phenomenon of great importance consisted in the development of both the aspirations for national independence and revolutionary movements which aimed at the radical transformation of the existing order. All these factors contributed to the political, social, and economic reasons which became the base of the order existing in the interwar period of twenty years. It is necessary to add that the World War I was not waged in the name of the liberation of nations and peoples but in that of the particularist affairs of the fighting powers. A radical change of the established system had not been expected at first. Such intentions appeared later on during the process of military operations; they were forced by the development of the situation. The Central Powers were the first to make such projects (the "Mitteleurope" plan), they were followed by the Allies of the West. The program of President Wilson which consisted of 14 items was the most popular one and was to be realized. However even this program considered chiefly the particularist aims. There were also some attempts to take national problems into consideration but in these improvisation is evident. Their authors lacked both the knowledge and the capacity of foresight necessary in order to cope with the situation which was spontaneously and unexpectedly developing. This influenced not only the progress of the last phase of the War as well as the Treaty of Peace. Its consequences were evident during all the period of twenty years between the two World Wars.