Middle East 559
Mediterranean as well as balance the power between France and Britain elsewhere in
North Africa—the French in Morocco, Algeria and Tunis, and the British in Egypt.
The occasion for war came as a result of the Agadir Crisis involving the Great
Powers. Italy used the distraction to attack the Ottoman Empire and declared war
on September 29, 1911. The ensuing battles between Turkey and Italy were evenly
matched, owing mostly to Italian incompetence and poor planning. Unfortunately for
the Ottoman Empire, the fallout of the Agadir Crisis and the Italian surprise attack
on Ottoman controlled Libya enabled the Balkan uprisings in 1912. Distracted with
conflicts closer to home, the Ottoman Empire sued for peace. Italy used this to their
advantage, gaining favorable terms in the Treaty of Ouchy on October 15 and the
Treaty of Lausanne on October 18, 1912. The Treaty of Ouchy announced the Otto-
man evacuation of Libya, though the sultan retained the right to appoint religious offi-
cials. Italy gained complete sovereignty over Libya. The Treaty of Lausanne called for
the Italian evacuation of the Dodecanese upon completion of the Turkish evacuation
of Libya. This never happened. World War I started around the time the Italians were
scheduled to make the transition, and the Italians ended up possessing these islands
until after World War II. Greece inherited them thereafter.
Coding changes: End Date changed from October 18, 1911.
MID#257
Started in July 1914. See the narrative in the 300 Austria-Hungary/345 Yugoslavia
dyad dispute list.
MID#320
Started in August 1914. See the narrative in the 300 Austria-Hungary/325 Italy dyad
dispute list.
MID#230
Dispute Number: 230
Date(s): April 2, 1919 to March 13, 1921
Participants: 325 Italy/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: By 1919, the Italians were attempting to establish a sphere of influence in
southwestern Turkey and occupied Adalia. Turkey vehemently opposed the occupa-
tion and appealed to the international community for support, but the Italians con-
tinued. On July 29, 1919, the Italians gained support of the occupation from Greece
after the Venizelos-Tittoni Agreement was signed. This treaty was over the future the
division of Turkey with each side agreeing to the claims of the other. On September
13, Turkish nationalists introduced the National Pact which included the self-determi-
nation of Turkish territories. This was included in response to the Italian occupation
and the Grecian claims to Turkish land. Meetings were held by the League of Nations
regarding the territorial problems in Turkey, but very little was accomplished.