It is Monday, 25th January 1919, (or is it 2016?). The world has just seen the worst war of its history. Representatives of 16 nations are gathering in Paris, France, (which looks somewhat like Essen, Germany) to establish a new world order and work out a lasting peace treaty. Important questions need to be answered now. Whose fault was it?, Should they pay for the huge damages which were caused by the fighting?, What will happen to Europe with its ancient nations?, Is there a need for new borders?. The most important question of all, however, is How can we prevent this from ever happening again?.
First Topic for Debate: War Guilt
Conference Director: Arie Boergen
Delegates from Prva gimnazija Varazdin, Croatia, and Prywatne Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace im. I.J. Paderewskiego, Poland
Delegates from Rotterdam International Secondary School, The Netherlands, and Ikast-Brande Gymnasium, Denmark
Delegates from Goetheschule Essen, Germany, with First President Nikolas Herrscher and Second President Pia Engelhard
The First Peace Conference Resolution:
Forum: Paris Peace Conference
Subject: War Guilt
Submitter: Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Co-Submitters: Republic of China, Republic of Poland, Soviet Russia,
Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of Belgium, Hejaz, The Brittish Empire,
The Republic of France, The United States of America,
The Dominion of India, The Dominion of Canada,
The Kingdom of Italy
The Paris Peace Conference,
Keeping in mind, what enormous losses both to society and economy the
World War brought us,
Fully alarmed by how unfair the situation during the war was and
how many innocent people have died,
Deeply convinced that the two parties
who are to blame for this conflict
are Austria-Hungary and the German Empire
Recognizing awful war crimes made by these countries,
but also many others,
Emphasizing, that these could occur again in future,
Wishing, that such crimes never be comitted again
1) Reminds all nations that this war was unavoidable
due to the rising hate between the countries
and complicated alliances,
2) Recalls that Austria was reacting overly emotionally
after the assassination of the Archduke,
3) Condemns the German Empire,
which attacked civilians both on the ground and the sea
as well as the neutral states of Belgium and Luxembourg
and used chemical weapons,
4) Demands the main punishment of the German Empire and
the Republic of Austria,
5) Expresses its hope that the debate will be just and fair,
6) Recognizes the Republic of Germany
as responsible for the actions of the former German Empire,
7) Certifies that some other countries, who took part in the war,
are also partly to blame for the outbreak of war, while not blaming:
a) Belgium
b) Kingdom of Croats, Serbs and Slovenes
c) Kingdom of Hejaz
d) Dominion of Canada
e) Dominion of India
f) Poland.