Treaty of Lausanne facts for kids
The Treaty of Lausanne was a peace agreement signed in 1923. It was signed after a war between Turkey and Greece, called the Greco-Turkish War, which lasted from 1919 to 1922. This treaty helped set the borders for modern-day Turkey, especially with Greece.
Many countries signed the treaty. These included Italy, France, Great Britain, and Japan. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia also signed it.
Even after the treaty, Greece and Turkey have sometimes disagreed. These disagreements are often about which country owns certain islands and rocks in the Aegean Sea. In 1987 and 1996, these disagreements almost led to new fights.
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What Was the Treaty of Lausanne?
The Treaty of Lausanne was a very important document. It officially ended the war between Turkey and the Allied Powers (like Great Britain, France, and Italy) and also settled the borders after the Greco-Turkish War. It replaced an earlier treaty, the Treaty of Sèvres, which was not accepted by the new Turkish government.
Why Was the Treaty Needed?
After World War I, the Ottoman Empire (which became Turkey) was defeated. The Treaty of Sèvres was signed in 1920, but it was very harsh on Turkey. It took away a lot of land and put the country under foreign control. The Turkish people, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, fought back in their Turkish War of Independence. They won the Greco-Turkish War, which made the old treaty impossible to enforce. So, a new treaty was needed to create lasting peace.
What Did the Treaty Change?
The Treaty of Lausanne set the current borders of Turkey. It also decided on many other important things:
- It ended foreign control over Turkey's money and laws.
- It allowed Turkey to have its own military.
- It protected the rights of people who were not Turkish in Turkey, and non-Greeks in Greece.
- It settled questions about islands in the Aegean Sea.
Who Signed the Treaty?
The main countries involved were Turkey, Greece, and the Allied Powers from World War I. The Turkish delegation was led by İsmet İnönü, a very important leader in Turkey.
What Were the Long-Term Effects?
The Treaty of Lausanne helped create the modern Republic of Turkey. It brought peace to the region after many years of war. However, some disagreements, especially about islands, continued between Greece and Turkey for many years.
Images for kids
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Adakale Island in River Danube was a small island that was forgotten in earlier peace talks. It was considered Turkish territory until the Treaty of Lausanne. The island was later covered by water when a dam was built in 1970.
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The Turkish team after signing the Treaty of Lausanne. İsmet İnönü is in the middle.
See also
In Spanish: Tratado de Lausana para niños
