Middle East 519
of the Turkish Nationalist Pact. However, in March 1921 Soviet Russia abandoned its
claim to Kars and Ardahan and provided Ataturk with supplies and weapons. Within
the year Italy and France also abandoned claims to Turkish territory, and the French
began to provide Ataturk with arms.
Although the Ottoman Empire was weak, the Sultan refused to ratify the Treaty
of Sevres. As a result of these events, the new regime in Ankara was in a very dif-
ferent position than the one in Constantinople. During the 19th century the British,
who were primarily concerned with the military threat Russia posed, had trusted that
the Ottoman Empire would grant it access to the straits in a time of war, but the Brit-
ish experience in World War I suggested otherwise. This led the British to push for
open access to the Straits. However, the regime in Ankara was much stronger than
the former regime in Constantinople. Greek troops had success against the Ottoman
troops, but the new regime’s soldiers turned the tide and recaptured their lost terri-
tory. Britain worried because the Kemal regime took the position that the Straits were
not neutral.
On September 16, 1922, British forces landed at Chanakkale, on the straits, and on
October 11, the Allies signed an armistice with the Turkish Nationalist regime. The
armistice provided for the Greeks to evacuate Eastern Thrace immediately and for
Thrace to the Maritsa River to return to Turkey. The Allies and Turks then entered
negotiations at Lausanne. On July 23, 1923, seven states signed the Treaty of Laus-
anne, which recognized the freedom of the Straits and brought this dispute to an end.
The Allies abandoned Constantinople on August 23.
Coding changes: End Date changed from July 24, 1923.
MID#3185
Dispute Number: 3185
Date(s): September 2, 1925 to June 5, 1926
Participants: 200 United Kingdom, 220 France/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Mosul, an oil-rich territory, was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1517
to the end of World War I. Britain ruled Mosul under a mandate from the League of
Nations while Turkey had historical claims to it. France also had financial interests in
Mosul since the Ottoman Empire, although these interests were marginal and the more
important friction was the question of the Sanjak. In 1923 Turkey signed the Treaty of
Lausanne that stipulated that Britain and Turkey would refer the Mosul dispute to the
League of Nations if they could not reach agreement directly. The League received
the dispute in September 1924 and established a committee to investigate. A year later
the committee recommended Mosul remain part of Mesopotamia.
The recommendation was promptly dismissed by Turkey. Britain was on the
verge of war to protect the population and their mandate in September 1925, and
Turkey had moved troops to the border. By December, Turkish troops were also
gathered at the Syrian border, which was then under French control. The tense pos-
turing never produced open conflict, and finally, in June 1926, Britain and Turkey
signed an agreement whereby Turkey recognized Iraq’s sovereignty over Mosul.
Coding changes: End Date changed from March 20, 1926.