Paris Peace Conference (January 18, 1919)

The World at the Dawn of the 20th Century

The Paris Peace Conference: Peace or Imposition?

The Paris Peace Conference (January 18, 1919) gathered to determine the future of the defeated countries after World War I. The official goal was to ensure "permanent peace." However, was it really peace?

In reality, the winners dictated their terms to the losers. 32 countries attended the conference, but the decisions were made by the USA, Britain, France, and Italy. The defeated countries, like Germany and the Ottoman Empire, were not even invited to the table. They only waited to sign the heavy treaties prepared for them.

Paris Peace Conference 18 January 1919
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The New Name of Colonialism: The Mandate System

As a Turkish person, looking at this page of history is painful because the Ottoman Empire was being dismantled. The Allied Powers wanted to bypass President Wilson’s principle that said, "Colonialism is forbidden." So, they invented a new system called the "Mandate System."

The Result: They claimed that nations in the Middle East could not govern themselves. Therefore, Ottoman territories like Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and the Arabian Peninsula were placed under the "protection" (control) of Britain and France.

Eastern Anatolia: The idea of establishing an Armenian State in Eastern Anatolia was also officially decided here for the first time.

Discussing Middle East and İzmir.
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The Biggest Betrayal at the Table: İzmir

One of the most critical decisions of the conference was about İzmir. Before the war, İzmir was promised to Italy through secret agreements. However, Britain (Lloyd George) changed the plan at the last minute.

Britain did not want a strong Italy in the Mediterranean. Instead, they preferred a weaker Greece that they could control easily. Consequently, İzmir was given to Greece.

This historical decision created a foundation for the tensions we see today. The militarization of the Aegean islands and the political conflicts between Greece and Türkiye are the long-term results of this decision made in Paris.

Tension between Italy and UK to colonize İzmir.
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The US Withdrawal and the Monroe Doctrine

While the European powers were sharing the Ottoman lands (especially oil regions and the Straits), the USA felt disappointed. President Wilson saw that his principles for a "fair world" were ignored by the European leaders.

As a result, the USA suspended its relations with Europe. They returned to the Monroe Doctrine (Policy of Isolation) and withdrew from European politics. The stage was left to Britain and France until World War II.

Historical Note: Peace Treaties After WWI

Country	Treaty Name	Date
Germany	Treaty of Versailles	June 28, 1919
Austria	Treaty of Saint-Germain	September 10, 1919
Bulgaria	Treaty of Neuilly	November 27, 1919
Hungary	Treaty of Trianon	June 4, 1920
Ottoman Empire	Treaty of Sèvres	August 10, 1920

(Note: The Treaty of Sèvres was never fully implemented thanks to the Turkish War of Independence.)

USA leaves the Conference. 

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In this series, my goal is to give you a clear idea about historical turning points in 500-750 words. In the next blog, we will turn our route to the north. We will discuss the rise of a new power: The Establishment of the Soviet Union and the Bolshevik Revolution.