Europe 223
Participants: 200 United Kingdom, 220 France, 255 Germany, 300 Austria-Hungary,
325 Italy, 365 Russia/350 Greece, 640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: This is the major power intervention in Crete, concurrent with the Greco-
Turkish War of 1897. Crete, the predominantly Greek island under control of the
Ottoman Empire, was still a major source of tension between Greece and the Otto-
mans. In the 1878 Treaty of Berlin, the Turks promised to make multiple concessions
regarding autonomy measures for the island but ended up not enacting any of these
measures.
Chaos ensued on the island from 1896 and into early 1897. The Turks tried to send
reinforcements to its personnel in Crete while the Greeks raced to intercept them.
Greek action on the issue frustrated the major powers. When the Greeks moved to
occupy Crete and expel the Turks, the fleets from the five powers occupied Cha-
nia and initiated a peaceful blockade on March 21, 1897, to stop the Greeks from
accessing Crete. Their control of Crete spread to other cities. The British held Candia
(Heraklion), and the Russians held Rethmynon. France controlled Sitia and the island
of Spinalonga while Italy occupied Ierapetra. Their presence continued after the
Greco-Turkish War until continued unrest in Crete forced a resolution to the issue at
the end of 1898. The Turks were finally expelled from Crete and, on November 26,
1898, Prince George of Greece was appointed high commissioner to Greece to serve
in an autonomous Cretan state under Ottoman suzerainty.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from February 15, 1897. End Date changed
from August 15, 1897.
MID#323
Dispute Number: 323
Date(s): June 6, 1916 to June 27, 1917
Participants: 200 United Kingdom, 220 France/350 Greece
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (None)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: Greece was a natural enemy of the Ottoman Empire and had a Serbian
defense pact with a specific Bulgarian clause. However, it also had irredentist claims
against Albania, and the Greek King (Constantine I of Greece) and German Emperor
(Kaiser Wilhelm II) were brothers-in-law. So, after some initial action against
Albania, Greece opted to remain neutral. This was not acceptable to the British and
the French, and both Allies tried to change Greek policy to the war. The Allies began
a blockade on June 6, 1916, and started seizing Greek vessels, aimed at cutting off
the supply of food to Greece. It supported the pro-Entente Eleftherios Venizelos in
his conflict with the pro-German Greek king, resulting in the August 1916 uprising
and “National Schism” between the Prime Minister and King. This continued until a
frustrated Constantine I of Greece abdicated his throne on June 11, 1917. The Allies
got their wish; Greece declared war on the Central Powers on June 27.
Coding changes: Outcome changed from Yield by side B. Settlement changed from
Imposed.