1. Woodrow Wilson (United States):
- Wilson was primarily driven by his idealistic vision of a peaceful world order. He sought to create the League of Nations as an international body to prevent future conflicts and promote collective security.
- He believed that the war provided an opportunity to reshape the global landscape and usher in an era of democracy, self-determination, and open diplomacy.
2. David Lloyd George (Britain):
- Lloyd George was focused on securing Britain's interests and maintaining its global power. He prioritized territorial gains and reparations from Germany to strengthen Britain's economic and political standing.
- While he supported the League of Nations in principle, he was more cautious about its potential limitations and wanted to ensure that Britain retained its influence in international affairs.
3. Georges Clemenceau (France):
- Clemenceau had a strong desire to ensure that Germany would never again pose a threat to France. He sought harsh reparations and territorial concessions to weaken Germany's military capabilities and prevent future aggression.
- He was skeptical about the League of Nations and believed in relying on traditional power politics and military strength to safeguard French security.
4. Vittorio Emanuele Orlando (Italy):
- Orlando was eager to fulfill Italy's territorial aspirations, particularly in the Adriatic region, which had been promised in secret treaties during the war.
- He felt that Italy's sacrifices in the war had not been adequately recognized and sought to gain territorial concessions to secure domestic support and national prestige.
5. Vladimir Lenin (Russia):
- Lenin and the Bolshevik Party had come to power in Russia after the Russian Revolution in 1917. They opposed the war and advocated for a socialist revolution to overthrow capitalism and imperialism.
- Lenin criticized the peace negotiations as imperialist in nature and believed that they perpetuated the exploitation of workers and oppressed peoples.
6. Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany):
- Kaiser Wilhelm II had abdicated and gone into exile in November 1918, marking the end of the German Empire. He was personally blamed for Germany's defeat and the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
- He felt a sense of betrayal and resentment towards the Allies, believing that Germany had been treated unfairly and that the peace settlement was too punitive.
Overall, the attitudes of national leaders at the end of World War I ranged from idealism and a desire for a new world order to realpolitik, nationalism, and a thirst for revenge. These varying perspectives shaped the negotiations and outcomes of the peace treaties, setting the stage for future conflicts and geopolitical shifts in the interwar period.