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.
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| Paris Peace Conference 18 January 1919 Generated by AI |
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.
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| Discussing Middle East and İzmir. Generated by AI |
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.
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| Tension between Italy and UK to colonize İzmir. Generated by AI |
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.)
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.
