100 YEARS OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES AND THE PARTICIPATION OF ECUADOR AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Abstract

On June 28, 1919 the Treaty of Peace was celebrated in Versailles, which ended the First World War, was signed by the Allied countries and Germany in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles. Once the armistice was declared, the Allies met at the Paris Conference to agree on the terms of peace with Germany. Discussions of the terms of the treaty began on January 18, 1919 and this was presented to Germany in May 1919 as the only alternative since its rejection would have implied the resumption of hostilities. Attended 32 States, Ecuador was included among the countries that had broken diplomatic relations with Germany and was represented by Enrique Dorn and Alsúa, a diplomat of great skill and experience. The victors imposed strong conditions on Germany, the guilt and responsibility of having started the war that made Germany's internal politics tense, as well as important concessions of territory that gave birth to new states, limitation of the army, demilitarization of areas of power, conflicts and pay heavy damages that broke the national economy, the consequences of the Treaty were evident: revenge and nationalism. The treaty established the creation of the League of Nations, at the initiative of the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, who sought to arbitrate in international disputes and avoid future wars; however, the entry of Germany was vetoed. It entered into force on January 10, 1920. The Treaty of Versailles was undermined early by later events and was widely violated by Germany in the 1930’s with the coming to power of Adolf Hitler.