# The French — The Economic Consequences of the Peace character guide

> The French in The Economic Consequences of the Peace by John Maynard Keynes.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** their

**First appearance:** 0001-the-economic-consequences-of-the-peace

## Snapshot

The victorious nation whose ministers drove the Treaty's harshest terms, convinced that security required Germany's permanent prostration.

## Who they are

In Keynes's telling, the French took the lead in the provisions he examines, making the most definite and extreme proposals first as a matter of tactics. Clemenceau gained a reputation for moderation by throwing over his ministers' excesses, while British and American critics, ignorant of the true point or unwilling to appear the enemy's advocate, let much pass. The French thus embody the destructive significance of the Peace: abusing momentary victorious power to destroy a Germany with which France is inextricably intertwined by hidden psychic and economic bonds.

## Relationships

### [Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/wilson)

_rivalry_

The French delegation, led by Clemenceau, frequently opposes Wilson's proposals, viewing them as too lenient on Germany.

### [Germany](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/germany)

_rivalry_

Germany and France are bitter enemies, with France seeking revenge and security at Germany's expense.

### [The Allies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/the_allies)

_friendship_

The Allies and France are close partners in the peace process, though tensions exist over the severity of terms.

### [Clemenceau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/clemenceau)

_friendship_

Clemenceau is the staunch representative of French interests, embodying the nation's desire for security and revenge.

### [M. Klotz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/m_klotz)

_professional_

M. Klotz, as French finance minister, is a colleague of the French delegation, focused on extracting maximum reparations.

### [The Germans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/the_germans)

_rivalry_

The French and Germans are historic enemies, with deep mutual animosity and distrust after the war.

### [Germany](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/germany)

_rivalry_

Germany and France are bitter enemies, with France seeking revenge and security at Germany's expense.

### [Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/wilson)

_rivalry_

The French delegation, led by Clemenceau, frequently opposes Wilson's proposals, viewing them as too lenient on Germany.

### [The Allies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/the_allies)

_friendship_

The Allies and France are close partners in the peace process, though tensions exist over the severity of terms.

## In the story

### [I: Introductory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/i-introductory)

The French spokesmen are accused of risking completing the ruin begun by Germany through a harsh peace.

### [III: The Conference](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/iii-the-conference)

Led the initial extreme proposals at the Conference, driven by a policy of permanent guarantees against Germany.

### [IV: The Treaty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/iv-the-treaty)

Pursued a policy of detaching the left bank of the Rhine and exploiting the occupied area for economic advantage.

### [V: Reparation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/v-reparation)

Their financial position made them unreceptive to reason on indemnity.

### [The Reparation Commission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/iv-the-reparation-commission)

Implied as a key driver behind the Commission's punitive design, though not explicitly named in excerpts.

### [VII: Remedies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/chapters/vii-remedies)

France is mentioned in the context of its own indebtedness and the burden of paying allies.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_economic_consequences_of_the_peace_se/characters/the_french
- 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