Aims in common:
- Both Lloyd George and Wilson wanted to prevent another global conflict and to build a lasting peace.
- Both leaders believed that the League of Nations was essential to maintaining peace.
- They agreed that Germany should be punished for its role in the war but not too severely so that it could not recover and pay reparations.
Differences:
- Self-determination: Wilson strongly advocated for the right of self-determination for all peoples, including those in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Lloyd George was more interested in preserving the British Empire and was less concerned with the principle of self-determination.
- Reparations: Wilson wanted to limit the amount of reparations imposed on Germany, arguing that excessive reparations would stifle its economy and make it difficult for the country to rebuild and rejoin the international community. Lloyd George, on the other hand, favored imposing heavier reparations to weaken Germany and prevent it from regaining its military strength.
- Territorial settlements: Wilson wanted to create a more just and equitable peace, which would involve redrawing borders based on ethnic and national lines. Lloyd George, however, was more concerned with maintaining the balance of power in Europe and preserving British interests. He was willing to make concessions to Germany and other defeated powers to achieve this goal.
Despite their differences, Lloyd George and Wilson were able to work together to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. The treaty reflected a compromise between their different aims and objectives.