# The Allies — The Economic Consequences of the Peace character guide > The Allies in The Economic Consequences of the Peace by John Maynard Keynes. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** themselves, their **First appearance:** 0001-the-economic-consequences-of-the-peace ## Snapshot The victorious coalition whose slackening criticism and tactical compromises let the harshest treaty terms slip through unchallenged. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Germany](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/germany) _rivalry_ Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies imposing harsh terms and Germany resisting them. ### [The French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/the_french) _friendship_ The Allies and France are close partners in the peace process, though tensions exist over the severity of terms. ### [Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/wilson) _professional_ Wilson and the Allies work together as negotiating partners, but with significant ideological friction. ### [Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/europe) _psychological_ Europe is portrayed as a victim of the Allies' punitive policies, suffering economic collapse as a result. ### [Germany](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/germany) _rivalry_ Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies imposing harsh terms and Germany resisting them. ### [Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/wilson) _professional_ Wilson and the Allies work together as negotiating partners, but with significant ideological friction. ### [Germany](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/germany) _rivalry_ Germany and the Allies are locked in a post-war adversarial relationship, with the Allies imposing harsh terms and Germany resisting them. ### [The French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/the_french) _friendship_ The Allies and France are close partners in the peace process, though tensions exist over the severity of terms. ### [Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/europe) _psychological_ Europe is portrayed as a victim of the Allies' punitive policies, suffering economic collapse as a result. ## In the story ### [The Economic Consequences of the Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/the-economic-consequences-of-the-peace) Imposers of the treaty's harsh terms, driven by vengeance and short-sighted demands. ### [Organization](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/ii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/iv-the-treaty) Imposed non-reciprocal trade and financial provisions, confiscated German assets, and disregarded pre-armistice pledges. ### [V: Reparation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/v-reparation) Entitled to reparation; their claims and negotiations are central. ### [Undertakings Given Prior to the Peace Negotiations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/ii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/iii-germany-s-capacity-to-pay) Recipients of reparations; their demands are critiqued as unrealistic. ### [The Reparation Commission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/iv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/v-the-german-counterproposals) The Allies reject Germany's counterproposals and propose a method to establish the total liability by 1919. ### [VII: Remedies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/vii-remedies) The Allies are discussed in the context of inter-Ally indebtedness and the burden of paying each other. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/endnotes) Mentioned regarding food supply conditions, occupation costs, and reparation collection. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/the_allies - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters