Treaty of Sèvres: What Happened
On 10 August 1920, the Allied powers and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Sèvres, in a suburb of Paris, setting out the terms of peace after World War I. The treaty dismantled much of the Ottoman Empire. For Greece, it represented a great diplomatic triumph for Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos. Greece was to receive Eastern Thrace, up to a short distance from Constantinople, and the islands of Imbros and Tenedos. The Smyrna region in Asia Minor was placed under Greek administration for five years, after which its people could vote on whether to join Greece. Many Greeks spoke of a Greece of two continents and five seas. Days later, Venizelos survived an assassination attempt in Paris by two royalist officers. However, the treaty was never carried out. It was rejected by the Turkish national movement led by Mustafa Kemal, which was fighting to create an independent Turkey. Within two years, the Turkish nationalists had defeated the Greek army in Asia Minor. The treaty was replaced in 1923 by the Treaty of Lausanne, which set very different borders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Treaty of Sèvres?
The Treaty of Sèvres, signed on 10 August 1920 near Paris, set out peace terms after World War I and dismantled much of the Ottoman Empire.
What did Greece gain under the Treaty of Sèvres?
Greece was to receive Eastern Thrace, the islands of Imbros and Tenedos, and administration of the Smyrna region for five years, followed by a possible vote on union.
What was the Greece of two continents and five seas?
It was a popular phrase describing the enlarged Greece promised by the Treaty of Sèvres, stretching across Europe and Asia.
Why was the Treaty of Sèvres never carried out?
The Turkish national movement led by Mustafa Kemal rejected the treaty and went on to defeat the Greek army in Asia Minor.
What replaced the Treaty of Sèvres?
The Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 replaced it, setting very different borders and recognizing the new Republic of Turkey.
