The Economic Consequences of the Peace · Character

The Allies

The victorious coalition whose slackening criticism and tactical compromises let the harshest treaty terms slip through unchallenged.

supporting

Also known as themselves, their

First appearance: The Economic Consequences of the Peace

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

Imposers of the treaty's harsh terms, driven by vengeance and short-sighted demands.

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Bound by prudence and magnanimity to reestablish life and heal wounds, the Allies instead let France take the lead in framing extreme proposals. British and American critics grow slack wherever their own interests are untouched, and the eleventh-hour refusal to allow discussion with the Germans seals provisions even the French took lightly. Their collective failure of attention is what Keynes means to expose.

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Character Web

20 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Friendship
Professional
Psychological
Other

Character groups

Key Peace Negotiators
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

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

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Relationships

Germany
rivalry · negative
Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies… How this plays out →
The French
friendship · positive
Wilson
professional · ambivalent
Europe
psychological · negative
Germany
rivalry · negative
Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies… How this plays out →
Wilson
professional · ambivalent
Germany
rivalry · negative
Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies… How this plays out →
The French
friendship · positive
Europe
psychological · negative

Germany
Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies imposing harsh terms and Germany resisting them.
The French
The Allies and France are close partners in the peace process, though tensions exist over the severity of terms.
Wilson
Wilson and the Allies work together as negotiating partners, but with significant ideological friction.
Europe
Europe is portrayed as a victim of the Allies' punitive policies, suffering economic collapse as a result.
Germany
Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies imposing harsh terms and Germany resisting them.
Wilson
Wilson and the Allies work together as negotiating partners, but with significant ideological friction.
Germany
Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies imposing harsh terms and Germany resisting them.
The French
The Allies and France are close partners in the peace process, though tensions exist over the severity of terms.
Europe
Europe is portrayed as a victim of the Allies' punitive policies, suffering economic collapse as a result.

Relationship notes

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

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In the story

The Allies appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Economic Consequences of the Peace
Imposers of the treaty's harsh terms, driven by vengeance and short-sighted demands.
Organization
Implied as part of the European system; Great Britain sent more exports to Germany than to any other country except India, and bought more from Germany than from any other except the United States.
IV: The Relation of the Old World to the New
Implicitly the victors tasked with the Peace Conference's dual responsibility of honoring engagements and reestablishing life.
IV: The Treaty
Imposed non-reciprocal trade and financial provisions, confiscated German assets, and disregarded pre-armistice pledges.
V: Reparation
Entitled to reparation; their claims and negotiations are central.
Undertakings Given Prior to the Peace Negotiations
The Allies modified the Fourteen Points and later attempted to expand reparations beyond the agreed terms.
The Conference and the Terms of the Treaty
Engaged in 'endless controversy and intrigue' over reparations, leading to a compromised and unsatisfactory Treaty.
Germany's Capacity to Pay
Recipients of reparations; their demands are critiqued as unrealistic.
The Reparation Commission
Principal Allies (U.S., Great Britain, France, Italy) each have a delegate on the Commission; they defend the Commission's role in their official reply.
V: The German Counterproposals
The Allies reject Germany's counterproposals and propose a method to establish the total liability by 1919.
VII: Remedies
The Allies are discussed in the context of inter-Ally indebtedness and the burden of paying each other.
Endnotes
Mentioned regarding food supply conditions, occupation costs, and reparation collection.

Chapter companion notes

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See The Allies in The Economic Consequences of the Peace