The earth would keep turning no matter who was gone. So the president's hospitalization did not affect the peace conference's normal proceedings.
Without Robert, there could be Libbert or Lambert. Pick anyone at random from the French delegation and put him up there, and the script could continue.
Although the cameras had recorded everything that happened in the conference hall, holding the culprit accountable was simply not an option.
Those who had acted were all delegates from various countries, each of them protected by diplomatic immunity. More than twenty countries were involved—there was no way to pursue the matter even if they wanted to.
Ignoring the French protests, they escorted the delegates involved in the violence out of the conference room, and that was the end of it.
"No, this treaty is far too harsh. It has already exceeded what France can bear, and we demand revisions.
We can accept ceding some colonies, but the clauses requiring the cession of our homeland must be removed. We can accept war reparations, but the amount must be reduced. Punishing war criminals is acceptable, but the list of war criminals does not reflect reality and must be redetermined.
..."
After the personnel change, the French delegation's performance was clearly much more normal. It seemed that, aside from President Robert, the scapegoat, the Paris Government had also sent a professional negotiating team.
"Mr. James, mistakes always come at a price. Your country started this utterly insane war, and now you still wish to evade responsibility?"
In international negotiations, the interests of small countries were the easiest to sacrifice. Though the Anti-French Alliance had already reached an internal agreement, so long as the formal treaty had not been signed, there was still room for reversals.
Belgium had paid a heavy price in this war,