558 Chapter 5
waters. Turkey removed one of its officials from Derna. The commander of the Varese
organized a ball for the vali (governor) of Tripoli and returned home 15 days later.
Coding changes: Settlement changed from Negotiated.
MID#312
Dispute Number: 312
Date(s): October 1910 to December 28, 1910
Participants: 640 Turkey/325 Italy
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The Turks seized an Italian sambuk and brought the vessel to Hodeida in
October 1910. The Italian consul general demanded that the vessel be released and
given back to Italy, issuing an ultimatum underscoring that point. When the ultima-
tum expired, Italian officers boarded the vessel and raised the Italian flag. The order
from Turkish governor Mohir Bey to fire on the vessel went unfulfilled. While Italy
was telling its allies in the Triple Alliance of its intent for a strong show of force, the
Turkish government filed legal proceedings against the Italian consulate of Tripoli.
The Italian ambassador to Constantinople presented a demand for the release of the
ship at Hodeida, indemnity, punishment of the mutessarif at Hodeida, withdrawal of
the legal proceedings against the Italian consulate, proper treatment of Italian nation-
als in Libya, registry of Turkish sales of land to Italians, and a concession for mining
phosphorus in Tripoli.
Germany and Austria, wanting to keep the peace between their Italian ally and
Turkish friend, were involved heavily in negotiation. The matter came to a close by
the end of 1910. Italy adopted a more conciliatory tone toward Turkey as the nego-
tiations proceeded, agreeing to drop the demand for the temporary suspension of the
anti-Italian Turkish newspaper Jeune Turc. Italy was denied a special position regard-
ing phosphorus beds in Libya, but Austria persuaded Italy that this was not grounds
for aggression. Turkey complied with the demand for land purchase records and the
release of the ship.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 1910.
MID#114
Dispute Number: 114
Date(s): September 1911 to October 15, 1912
Participants: 325 Italy/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Negotiated)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The Italian-Turkish War of 1911 to 1912 resulted in the establishment of
an Italian colony over the entirety of Libya. Tensions ran deep between the two states
(see MID#311 and MID#312), and the Ottoman Empire had lost its tight grip on its
North African territories. While France and Great Britain scrambled for various parts
of the Ottoman Empire’s administrative districts in North Africa, Italy had its intentions
locked on Libya. Acquiring Libya would exponentially improve Italy’s position in the