France cannot cover both colonies and the Mediterranean

France entered the conference with deep human, psychological, and industrial damage from the First World War. Wounded veterans required support and adaptation, while some survivors could no longer tolerate the noise and strain of heavy industry. Rapidly changing coalition governments made sustained policy and ministerial accountability difficult even when leaders agreed that France must recover and contain Germany. Political factions also shared distrust of the armed forces as a potential threat to civilian rule. Choosing colonial minister Albert Sarraut and ambassador Jules Jusserand revealed the importance of overseas possessions. Matching Italy in the Mediterranean consumed forces that France also needed for a dispersed empire, creating a strategic dependence on British naval strength.