The Economic Consequences of the Peace · Character

M. Klotz

France's finance minister, whose reparations arithmetic Keynes treats with wry pity as one of the Conference's more damaging enthusiasms.

supporting

Also known as poor M. Klotz, M. Klotz

First appearance: III: The Conference

As a supporting figure in The Economic Consequences of the Peace, M. Klotz is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

French minister whose extreme claims were sometimes abandoned by Clemenceau for tactical reasons.

In the storyIII: The ConferenceOpen this moment free

Klotz belongs to the French ministerial cohort whose extreme initial proposals Clemenceau could later discard with an air of impartial moderation. His fixation on what Germany could be made to pay embodies the French tactic of opening from an extreme position, expecting double compromise with allies and then with the Germans. Keynes's pity for him is telling: the finance minister's figures were taken seriously enough to shape the Treaty, yet not seriously enough by the French themselves, and the eleventh-hour refusal to discuss terms with the Germans sealed their effect.

See M. Klotz in III: The Conference Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how M. Klotz sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Economic Experts & Officials
Key Peace Negotiators
Protagonist

+3 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

In this chapter, the emotional/psychological peak occurs as Keynes directly confronts the reader's potential d…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

The French
professional · positive

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See M. Klotz in III: The Conference

In the story

M. Klotz appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

III: The Conference
French minister whose extreme claims were sometimes abandoned by Clemenceau for tactical reasons.
V: Reparation
French finance minister with overwhelming difficulties; his policy of pretense.
Undertakings Given Prior to the Peace Negotiations
French Finance Minister who grossly exaggerated French claims to $26.8 billion, criticized by Keynes for deception.
The Conference and the Terms of the Treaty
French Finance Minister whose policy of pretense on reparations conflicted with Clemenceau's realpolitik.
VI: Europe After the Treaty
M. Klotz is mentioned as an example of how the capitalist class may bring about revolution through weakness.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for M. Klotz unlock in the free preview.

See M. Klotz in III: The Conference