Victory having been achieved, it now remained to make peace. There were inevitable delays. Lloyd George deemed it necessary first to strengthen his position by an appeal to the country. The polls took place on Dec. 14, 1918, and the results were declared on Dec. 28. The effect was an overwhelm ing victory for Lloyd George, he being returned to power by a majority of 249 over all the independent groups. He himself was returned for the eighth time as member for Carnarvon Bor oughs with a majority of 12,898. These events filled up the pause rendered inevitable by the waiting of Europe for the arrival of President Wilson, who had decided to attend the Peace Con ference as American representative. The first meeting of the con ference took place on Jan. 18, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles, and it proved an impressive gathering of the representatives of all the 3o countries who had taken part in the defeat of the Central Powers. The whole British empire was represented at Paris among the colleagues of Lloyd George.
It soon became obvious that so big an assembly could not really arrive at peace. There were too many conflicting views, there was no possibility of secrecy. The allied negotiators gradually narrowed to an inner council of ten, which was soon reduced to five; then from five to four; and finally from four to three— Lloyd George, Wilson and Clemenceau. What happened behind the scenes was this: roughly speaking, the position was that Lloyd George and Wilson worked for a peace of conciliation, while Clemenceau worked for a peace of victory. The French started with a claim to extend their frontier up to the left bank of the Rhine. Wilson and Lloyd George together succeeded in moderat ing this claim. But they were compelled to hand over the Saar Valley for 15 years as part of the compromise. Other compro mises took place in regard to Silesia and the Polish corridor. No one was completely satisfied, but every country had its say. Wilson's unique contribution to the settlement was the League of Nations Covenant. When the crisis came and President Wilson threatened to leave the conference unless the Covenant was placed first in the treaty, Lloyd George supported the view of President Wilson.
Lloyd George's freedom was much hampered by Press attacks from home, and at one moment Lord Northcliffe organized a mandatory telegram from over zoo members of Parliament rebuking him for a tendency to weaken on the demands to Germany. Lloyd George returned to London to face his critics in parliament and secured a huge majority. There
can be no doubt, however, that these symptoms of discontent at home diminished his authority and weakened his resistance to the military policy of France. At this point, for instance, he agreed (as he found Wilson had already done) to the French claim to occupy the left bank of the Rhine for 15 years, which he had hitherto attempted to limit to a much shorter period. On May 6 a draft of the treaty was completed, and was presented to the Ger man foreign minister, Count Brockdorff-Rantzau on the following day. Germany instantly pleaded for various important modifica tions. During the six weeks of parley with Germany that followed Lloyd George played the part of conciliator. Wilson hardened against Germany, and took the view that he was pledged to the treaty as it stood. On June 22 the National assembly authorized the signing of the treaty, and on June 28 it was signed at Ver sailles by the German envoys. Lloyd George returned to England and defended the treaty before parliament, which unanimously ratified it on July 3. Shortly after he was awarded the Order of Merit.
Having made peace abroad, Lloyd George returned to restore peace at home, which was just as much in peril. The long strain of the World War and the terrible losses of men and material had left Great Britain gravely wounded and weakened. The impulse of patriotism passed away; and the idea seemed to spread that every class was to be enabled to "get rich quickly" by the achievement of victory. The result was a series of industrial struggles, beginning with the London railway strike in February 1919, followed a few weeks later by the first of the coal crises Lloyd George averted a strike on the coal fields by appointing a royal commission with Mr. Justice Sankey as chairman, with a promise that the commission should report on wages and hours by March 20. The Sankey commission re ported on that day, recommending a two-shillings' increase in wage and an immediate seven-hours' day. The concessions were granted and a strike was averted. But when the majority of the com mission went on to recommend nationalization of the mines, Lloyd George refused to adopt the suggestion. In October 1919 the rail waymen precipitated a national strike ; and once more Lloyd George had to play the part of national conciliator. He brought the strike to an end by a compromise settlement fixing wages according to the scale of living.