Chanak Crisis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chanak Crisis |
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| Part of the Turkish War of Independence | |||||||
 Locations of Turkish Straits; the Bosphorus (red), the Dardanelles (yellow) |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Ankara Government |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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| Units involved | |||||||
| V Cavalry Corps |
Occupation forces | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| c. 3 divisions |
All Allied forces in Istanbul and Çanakkale
Total: c. 51,300 soldiers (411 machine guns, 57 artillery pieces) (French and Italian forces withdrew as soon as the ultimatum was delivered.) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | None | ||||||
The Chanak Crisis (Turkish: Çanakkale Krizi) was a tense situation in September 1922. It almost led to a war between the United Kingdom and the new Turkish government. The name "Chanak" comes from Çanakkale, a city in Turkey. This city is located on the Dardanelles Strait.
The crisis happened because Turkish forces wanted to push Greek armies out of Turkey. They also aimed to regain control of areas occupied by the Allied powers. These areas included Constantinople (now Istanbul) and Eastern Thrace. Turkish troops moved towards British and French positions near the Dardanelles. For a short time, war between Britain and Turkey seemed very likely.
However, Canada, France, and Italy did not want to join a war. Many people in Britain also opposed another war. Even the top British general in the area, Sir Charles Harington, believed a peaceful solution was possible. He refused to deliver a final warning to the Turks.
The British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, and Winston Churchill wanted to fight. But other leaders in their government disagreed. The crisis ended quickly when Turkey, after defeating the Greeks, agreed to talk. They got the land they wanted through negotiations. Lloyd George's handling of the crisis led to his resignation. This event also showed that Canada wanted to make its own decisions about war, separate from Britain.
Contents
What Caused the Chanak Crisis?
Turkish Forces Advance on Neutral Zone
In 1922, Turkish troops had recently won a major victory against Greek forces. They recaptured İzmir on September 9. After this, they started moving towards Constantinople. This city was in a "neutral zone," meaning it was not supposed to be part of any fighting.
On September 10, British military leaders worried about the Greek army's ability to fight. They suggested British troops should move back to Gallipoli. But General Harington disagreed. He thought a Turkish attack was unlikely. He believed their small force could stop any aggression.
Turkey's Demands for Peace
On September 15, the leader of the Turkish movement, Mustafa Kemal, spoke to a newspaper. He said Turkey's goals had not changed. "We want Asia Minor, Thrace up to the Maritsa river, and Constantinople," he stated. He added that he would march his army into Constantinople if needed. But he preferred to get control through talks.
The British government met that same day. They decided their forces should stay in their positions. The next day, some British ministers sent a message. They threatened Turkey with war. They claimed Turkey had broken a past agreement called the Treaty of Sèvres.
France and Britain Disagree
When the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Curzon, returned to London, he was upset. He knew this threat would anger the French Prime Minister, Raymond Poincaré. Curzon went to Paris to try and fix things.
However, Poincaré had already ordered French troops to leave Chanak. But he did convince the Turks to respect the neutral zone for a while. Curzon and Poincaré had tense meetings. Eventually, they agreed to talk about a ceasefire with the Turks.
International Reactions to the Crisis
Turkish People in Constantinople Organize
During this time, Turkish people living in Constantinople began to organize. They prepared for a possible attack on the city by Turkish forces. A war reporter, Ernest Hemingway, wrote about a strange event. He saw a boat full of Turkish women stopped by a British ship. When searched, all the "women" turned out to be men. They were Turkish officers sent to organize the local Turkish population.
British Government Divided on War
In Britain, Prime Minister Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, and some other leaders wanted war. They supported the Greeks. But most other leaders in the government were against war. They supported the Turks. Lloyd George's position as prime minister became very difficult.
The British government also received some incorrect information. They thought Turkey might make a military deal with Soviet Russia. Even though British spies reported this was not true, the government remained worried. Churchill published a message warning of a huge Turkish attack into Europe. This message was widely criticized and embarrassed the British government.
Lloyd George was advised by many officials not to support the Greeks. But he ignored them. The British public was also very worried about the Chanak situation. They did not want to go to war again.
Canada's Stand for Independence
Unlike in 1914, when World War I started, Canada did not automatically agree to join the conflict. The Canadian Prime Minister, Mackenzie King, insisted that the Parliament of Canada should decide. King was upset by a message from Churchill asking Canada to send troops. He sent back a message saying Canada would not automatically support Britain if it went to war with Turkey.
Most members of King's party and other supporting parties were against going to war. So, Canada likely would have stayed neutral if war had broken out. The Chanak issue divided opinions in Canada. Many Canadians felt Canada should not just agree to everything Britain asked. But the leader of the Conservative Party, Arthur Meighen, said Canada should have immediately supported Britain.
By the time the Canadian Parliament discussed the issue, the crisis was over. But King had made his point clear. The Canadian Parliament would decide Canada's role in world affairs. It could make different choices from the British government. Other countries like Yugoslavia, Italy, and Romania also offered no support. Only Newfoundland and New Zealand offered a small number of troops.
Ending the Crisis and Its Results
Peace Talks Begin and Armistice Signed
On September 23, the British government decided to give East Thrace to the Turks. This meant the Greeks had to leave the area without a fight. This decision convinced Kemal to agree to peace talks. On September 28, he told the British that his troops would avoid any fighting at Chanak. He suggested Mudanya as the place for peace talks.
The different sides met on October 3. They agreed to the terms of the Armistice of Mudanya on October 11. This happened just two hours before British forces were set to attack.
Lloyd George's Resignation
Lloyd George's quick decisions during the crisis led to a meeting of Conservative leaders. At this meeting on October 19, 1922, they decided their party should run in the next election on its own. This was a huge problem for Lloyd George. His government was mostly made up of Conservative members.
Lloyd George also lost the support of Lord Curzon, who felt the Prime Minister had gone behind his back. After the Conservative Party's decision, Lloyd George resigned as Prime Minister. He never held that office again. The Conservatives, led by Bonar Law, won the next election.
Long-Term Impact on British Empire
British and French forces left the neutral zone in the summer of 1923. This happened after a new agreement, the Treaty of Lausanne, was approved.
The Chanak Crisis greatly changed the idea that countries like Canada would automatically follow Britain into war. It changed the relationship between Britain and its Dominions (self-governing countries within the British Empire). This crisis helped lead to the Statute of Westminster 1931. This law clearly stated that the Dominions had the power to declare war on their own.
