Europe 219
Participants: 200 United Kingdom, 220 France/329 Two Sicilies
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Britain and France imposed an armistice on the king of Naples during the
Sicilian insurrection of 1848. The insurrection itself occurred when the Sicilian part
of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies revolted against the rule of Ferdinand II (of Naples).
During the conflict, the British and French used their navies to intervene. They forc-
ibly imposed an armistice around September 13, 1848. Ferdinand II was forbidden
from using force against Sicily but was allowed to build armaments for his own
defense. The armistice imposed eventually passed and Sicily gained nothing from the
reprieve. They were eventually crushed by Neapolitan forces and any hopes of reform
for Sicily were gone.
200 United Kingdom/339 Albania
MID#4
Dispute Number: 4
Date(s): May 15, 1946 to November 13, 1946
Participants: 339 Albania/200 United Kingdom
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: In May 1946, Albania fired on British navy warships as they passed
through the Corfu Channel in Albanian territory. On October 22, a more securely
outfitted British fleet attempted to pass through the northern portion of the channel.
One of the warships struck a mine and was heavily damaged. Another ship, coming
to the aid of the first, was also damaged by a mine. The British government informed
Albanian authorities of their intention to sweep the Corfu Channel for mines, an action
the Albanians said could only take place outside of their territorial waters.
On November 12 and 13, the British navy swept the Corfu Channel and removed
22 German-made mines. The Albanian government claimed that the British navy had
violated their territorial sovereignty by first sending the heavily outfitted fleet through
the Channel in October 1946 and then by clearing mines in Albanian territory. The
United Kingdom contended that its actions were “innocent” and were therefore admis-
sible under international law. Further, the British claimed that the mine-sweeping
operation was necessary for the protection of its vessels.
In early 1947, both parties agreed to have the dispute adjudicated by the Interna-
tional Court of Justice (ICJ). The court ruled that while the October 1946 passage of
naval vessels through the Corfu Channel did not violate Albania’s sovereignty (and
was, in fact, an “innocent” action), the mine-sweeping operations were a violation of
Albania’s territorial sovereignty. In 1949, the ICJ found that Albania was responsible
for the loss of life and property in the October 1946 mine explosions.
Coding changes: Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from None.