Richard and Grace stumbled out of the attic, coughing on the dust their landing had stirred. Grace pushed her blonde hair out of her eyes and looked around. “I think it worked!” she said.
They were standing in an ornate room with tall windows letting in the morning light. Men in suits were seated around a large table, reviewing documents in various languages. Waiters in white jackets whisked around them, pouring tea and coffee.
“It must be 1919,” Richard said. “These guys look like they’re getting ready to sign a treaty. I bet it’s the Treaty of Versailles.”
Just then, a familiar-looking man with a cane limped up to the table.
“Is that…Woodrow Wilson?” Grace whispered. “The President of the United States?”
They watched as Wilson sat down and began discussing the terms. A British representative outlined the plan to punish Germany by taking land and imposing huge reparations.
“This Treaty of Versailles is really a diktat – basically a set of terms dictated by the Allies for Germany to accept or else,” Richard whispered.
Grace nodded, “Yeah, Germany only has 15 days to ratify it or the Allies will invade again. Harsh.”
Signed on June 28, 1919, as an end to the First World War, The Treaty of Versailles was supposed to ensure a lasting peace by punishing Germany and setting up a League of Nations to solve diplomatic problems. Instead, it left a legacy of political and geographical difficulties that have often been blamed, sometimes solely, for starting the Second World War.
The conversation grew heated as Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando argued over Italian land claims. Wilson responded that self-determination should decide Italy’s borders.
Richard and Grace followed Wilson after the signing. He confessed his fears that the treaty’s harshness would spark future conflict.
“There’s going to be real economic suffering after this treaty,” Richard said as they wandered the halls. “Germany lost so much territory, assets…”
Grace added, “The reparations alone amount to three times Germany’s income! How can they ever pay it off?”
They passed German delegates angrily calling their leaders “November Criminals” for signing the Versailles Diktat.
“What a bitter victory,” Grace sighed as they glimpsed Wilson’s devastated face. The terms dictated at Versailles would only plant the seeds for the next tragic war.
As the twins made their way back to the time machine, they discussed the implications of what they had witnessed.
“Germany’s pride has been severely wounded,” said Richard. “The reparations will cripple their economy and the blame heaped upon them is outrageous.”
Grace nodded solemnly. “Not to mention the Land losses – Alsace-Lorraine, Danzig, the colonies…”
They passed a group of young German veterans, their uniforms tattered and faces hardened by war. Richard overheard them grumbling about politicians who had “stabbed Germany in the back.”
“With sentiments like that Dolchstoss (‘stab in the back’) conspiracy theory brewing, conflict could arise again,” he said. many Germans believe they had not lost the war on the battlefield, their own leaders had given it away.
Grace gave an exasperated sigh. “You’d think Wilson would have done more to make this a fair, sustainable peace. But he seems too emotionally and physically spent to fight harder for his Fourteen Points.”
They quickened their pace as the crowd thickened. All around them delegates laughed and toasted their victory, oblivious to the turmoil brewing in Germany.
The twins found a private nook where they could talk undisturbed.
“So what do you think it all means?” Grace asked. ”I mean, based on our studies at school on the
Richard considered the question seriously. “Well, France and Britain were pretty short-sighted in punishing Germany so badly. It sowed the seeds of resentment that helped the Nazis eventually take power.”
“And Wilson thought he could get world peace through the League of Nations,” Grace mused. “Too bad the U.S. Congress blocked that idea. If only they’d joined, maybe World War II could have been prevented.”
Richard nodded eagerly. “It just shows how important American leadership is on the global stage…”
“Ahem!”
The twins whirled around to see a security guard frowning at them.
“How did you two get in here?” he demanded in French.
“Run!” shouted Richard, grabbing his sister’s hand. They took off down the hall and ducked behind a thick velvet curtain.
Holding their breath, they listened to the guard’s footsteps rush past. After a minute, Richard peeked out. “All clear,” he grinned. “Shall we head home to Whitby?”
Grace laughed. “I still can’t believe we just witnessed them signing the Treaty of Versailles!”
She squeezed the ‘remote’ knob from the time machine. Soon they were spinning back to the 21st century.
