The Conflict Resolution Process in Eastern Europe

Paris would often make small judgments on very specific territorial questions. These did not always fully resolve the problems, but it was a valuable area of discussion that probably prevented even more border fighting and possibly further escalation into full-scale war. The discussions around the terms that would be presented to Germany were some of the most complicated and contentious of the conference. It was in these discussions that the different views of what peace should look like would be most directly in conflict. Wilson and the Americans favored a peace that minimized the traditional role of victors and vanquished. This would cause Wilson to often resist the more extreme forms of punishment suggested by the other leaders instead push more for reconciliation.