Spa Conferences (First World War)

The Spa Conferences were a series of meetings held in Spa, Belgium, during and immediately after the First World War, primarily involving the Allied Powers and Germany. They focused on enforcing the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, particularly issues related to reparations, disarmament, and territorial control.

The most significant Spa Conference took place in July 1920. This conference was called to address Germany's failure to meet its disarmament obligations and to determine the distribution of reparations payments among the Allies. Key figures attending included David Lloyd George (United Kingdom), Alexandre Millerand (France), and representatives from Italy, Belgium, and Germany. The conference resulted in the Spa Coal Agreement, which required Germany to deliver large quantities of coal to France, Belgium, and Italy as part of its reparations payments. The agreement also established percentages for how reparations would be divided between the Allied nations, with France receiving the largest share.

Other conferences held in Spa during this period addressed various issues related to the aftermath of the war, including the implementation of plebiscites in disputed territories, the repatriation of prisoners of war, and the stabilization of the European economy. These conferences highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the victorious Allies in rebuilding Europe and enforcing the terms of the peace treaties following the First World War. The Spa Conference of 1920, in particular, reveals the tensions and complexities involved in demanding reparations from a defeated Germany while also attempting to foster economic stability.