354 Chapter 3
MID#141
Started in June 1880. See the narrative in the 200 United Kingdom/640 Turkey dyad
dispute list.
MID#1571
Dispute Number: 1571
Date(s): August 29, 1882 to September 6, 1882
Participants: 640 Turkey/350 Greece
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Greece remained neutral in the Russo-Ottoman War of 1877 (see
MID#187) and, as a prize, was likely to receive some revision of the border status quo
with its nemesis, the Ottoman Empire. The 13th protocol of the Congress of Berlin
(1878) affirmed these expectations; the European Powers determined that the border
should be adjusted in a way favorable to Greece. However, Article 24 of the Treaty
of Berlin called for Greece and the Ottoman Empire to adjust the matter between
themselves. The Greeks tried to bring the Ottoman Empire to the negotiating table,
but failed each time. Finally, on June 11, 1880, the British ambassador to the Otto-
man Empire notified the Porte that the matter would be adjusted in Berlin, on June 16,
- The line was determined on July 15 that same year, and Greece and the Otto-
man Empire were invited to accept. The Porte objected on July 26, but the European
Powers declined the Porte’s objections by August 25.
The Ottoman Empire was temporarily saved from making concessions until
December 1880, when Montenegrin problems became paramount. Afterward, France
tried to take the lead in settling the issue but was rejected by both Greece and Turkey.
Turkey wanted to make no concessions, and Greece wanted nothing short of what was
determined in the Treaty of Berlin.
Greece was becoming impatient and mobilized its army in early 1881 to press
claims based on the Treaty of Berlin. However, the European Powers had changed
their disposition toward the matter. They were no longer willing to use anything more
than diplomatic pressure to get Turkey to cede land. Thus, since Turkey refused to
budge under the diplomatic pressure, they would try to get Turkey to settle for less.
The Greek government learned of this change of policy in a collective note on April
7, 1881. Five days later, Greece reluctantly agreed to follow suit. The discussions
resulted in a convention on May 24, 1881, which was ratified on June 14. A corollary
convention was added on July 2. Four days later (July 6), Greek troops entered the
newly acquired territory with the assistance of military personnel from the European
Powers. Now that the Greeks had moved in, a Delimitation Commission, spelled out
in Article 1 of the convention, was begun and eventually agreed to in principle by a
November 28, 1881, agreement in Constantinople. Turkey wanted to cede nothing to
Greece and objected to the cession of the following territories: Karalik Dervend (on
the Thessalian border), Nezeros, Analypsis, Krizovali, and Gounitza. On August 29,
1882, Turkish troops attacked Greek forces along the frontier. The fighting stretched
from Zorbas to Degaui, killing four and wounding 10. The Turks lost eight in the