 The Allied delegation initially thought Article 231 to be a mundane addition to the treaty intended to limit German liability with regard to reparations , and were surprised at the vehemence of the German protests . Georges Clemenceau rebuffed Brockdorff @-@ Rantzau 's allegations , arguing that " the legal interpretation [ of the article ] was the correct one " and not a matter of political question . Lloyd George commented that " the English public , like the French public , thinks the Germans must above all acknowledge their obligation to compensate us for all the consequences of their aggression . When this is done we come to the question of Germany 's capacity to pay ; we all think she will be unable to pay more than this document requires of her . " 
