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KINGDOM OF Quadrumvirate: Anatolian Wars, 1919 Chaired by Berat Talay

Session XXII

Kingdom of Greece Quadrumvirate: Anatolian Wars, 1919

Topic A: M oving Forward in the Wake of the

Topic B: T he Minor Campaign against the Ottomans

Committee Overview Parliamentary Procedure With the end of War I, the Standard MUN parliamentary finds itself on the procedure will be adhered to in this winning side. While Constantine I was in committee, but may be altered at the exile, the prime minister Eleftherios discretion of to reflect the current Venizelos assumed full control of the state of the crisis. Delegates in this kingdom and joined the members of the committee have certain abilities and powers comprised of the United that can greatly affect debate, and Kingdom, the French , and Russian subsequently, the course of events. This in victory. committee will be following procedures Like others, Greece wants to benefit similar to that of the General Assemblies, from a moribund . For the which includes maintaining a speaker’s list first in centuries, Greece has the and having moderated and unmoderated opportunity to remove the Ottoman Empire caucuses. However, there will be a variety completely out of the . Approaching of crises that will require the use of mid­1919, the Venizelos government is directives, press releases, and portfolio close to settling its deals with an acquisition powers unique to each delegate. The of land that will expand its territory by committee may use tools listed in almost twofold. Although it seems that the order to promptly implement solutions. It is kingdom is on the rise of expansion, extremely important to remember that each internally it is divided by the schism of and every delegate represents a character, Venizelists and anti­Venizelists. Aside from or historical individual, rather than a ongoing political friction, Greek expansion specific country. Every directive, press is countered by Mustafa Kemal and the release, and portfolio request must Turkish National Movement. At this critical accurately reflect the viewpoints and moment, Greece must first achieve constraints of the character. domestic stability and then garner foreign support for expansion.

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Quadrumvirate Organization behind the closed doors of the other three committee rooms. Every decision made by The Turkish National Movement, each of these Quad committees will impact Kingdom of Greece, the Russian Socialist the other three, making for multifaceted Federative Republic, and the United crisis elements and discussion, as well as Kingdom will be functioning as a group of the potential for multilateral agreement and four committees, with interconnected crisis conflict. Delegates are encouraged to elements, in which all debate in the interact through cross­committee crisis individual committee rooms will impact the notes, the arrangement of meetings through other three committees. While there are crisis staff, or cross­committee specific concerns that affect each room unmoderated caucus. individually and with which delegates must concern themselves, just as important is the international politicking and debate

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Delegate Biographies

Eleftherios Venizelos I of Greece Prime Minister of Greece was born in 1864 in Alexander was born in 1893 in . As the under Ottoman rule. He lived through the most second son of King Constantine I, and third in turbulent years of Cretan during which line to the throne upon birth, he was never revolted and was oppressed. He expected to become King of Greece. He was participated and played a role in the last educated at the prestigious Military Cretan Revolution. After Crete declared itself as Academy, going into combat during the Balkan an independent, Venizelos also formulated a Wars in the years 1912­1913. During liberal legislative and political system under I, his father elected to be neutral, though he had George that provided security to Cretan German sympathies. However, the Entente residents.1 In 1910, he became the Prime Powers eventually pressured him to abdicate Minister of Greece with an endorsement of the throne. While Alexander’s brother, George, parliamentary . When WWI broke should have been the in line, he was out, Venizelos favored the Entente due to their determined by the Entente powers to be too strong naval power, while King Constantine I pro­German. Thus, Alexander took the throne favored the Central Power. Venizelos resigned in 1917, a position he continues to hold.3 twice in 1915 after a major disagreement with the king, once in February and once in December after he was elected as Prime Military and Venizelist politician Minister again. In 1916, he supported the Stylianos Gonatas was born in 1876 in National Defense movement, moved to , established a provisional . He was educated in Military government apart from the royalist Academy then joined the army after his government, and declared war on the Central graduation in 1897. He participated in Power. Thus, when World War ended, Greece many campaigns, including the is on the winning side.2 and the . In addition to his achievement in the military, he was also a Venizelist politician.

1 Biography, (, National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos”, 2018). 2 “The War 1914­1918” (Chania, National Research Foundation Eleftherios Venizelos, 2014­ 2017). 3 “,” (Wikipedia, 2018)

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Dimitrios Gounaris Prince Leader of the People’s Party Prince of Greece and Dimitrios Gounaris was born in 1867 from an Prince Andrew is the seventh child of King affluent family. Because of a family financial George I. He was involved in the military at an crisis, he entered politics in 1902. In his early age in the Greek Army and participated interview before the national election from the in the Balkan War. During his education, he Akropolis, he outlined his vision of received training Panagiotis Danglis and was modernizing the country’s legal system, an acquaintance of fellow student Theordoros making education practical, simplifying Pangalos. In 1903, he married Princess Alice of the tax system, imposing a progressive income Battenberg, who is related to Britain and test, and promoting a competitive market. . During WWI, he visited Britain Although he believed that absence of state frequently, but his relationship with Germany intervention is , he supported government led to suspicions to his intention. In 1917, intervention increasing production and because his brother, Constantine I, abdicated, economic efficiency. His first attempt was not Prince Andrew also went into exile.8 successful and his appointment as the minister of finance only lasted for four months until Nikolaos Plastira February 1909. However, in 1915, he was Greek General and Venizelist supporter appointed as Prime Minister. 4 Nikolaos Plastira was born in in 1883. He joined the army in 1903 and participated in Xenophon Stratigos multiple military actions, including the Greek Major General Macedonian Struggle. He also took part in the Xenophon Stratigos was a Greek military officer Balkan War and made his presence in both who participated in the Balkan War and the military and politics. During the National ­Turkish War. During his military career, Schism, he supported Venizelos.9 he was appointed multiple positions, including serving for intelligence activity and staff Alexandros Othonaios service. He was a royalist and thus was Greek General removed from the army during the national Alexandros Othanaios is a Greek general with a Schism. close friendship with Venizelos. He attended the Hellenic , and took parts Alexandros Zaimis in the Balkan War. During the National Former Greek Prime Minister Schism, he sided with Venizelos, and Al exandros Zaimis is a Greek parliamentarian participated in the during who has served as WWI.10 five prior to this committee as well as the of Crete from 1906­1908. During WWI, he openly supported a neutral position for the , but privately he supported the Allied effort.5

4 Adamantios Syrmaloglou, Parliamentary Economists and Social Reform: The Case of the ‘Japanese’ in the Hellenic (1906­1908), (The of Economic Thought, 2015), 53­57. 5 V., Da Graça John. Heads of State and Government. (New York: St. Martins Press, 2000). 8 Gyles Brandreth, ( and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage. (: Century, 2004). 9 T. Veremis, “The Officer Corps in Greece (1912­1936),” in Byzantine and Studies 2 (1976): 113–33. 10 Eleftherios Venizelos: The Trials of Statesmanship: The Trials of Statesmanship edited by Paschalis M. Kitromilides

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Theodoros Pangalos Georgios Hatzianestis Chief of Staff of Greek Army Greek General Theodoros Pangalos was born to a military and Georgios Hatzianestis was born in Athens to a aristocratic family. After he graduated from the politician and scholar. After he graduated from Greek Army Academy, he participated in the the Hellenic Military Academy, he spent a Balkan War. During the Great Schism, he joined period of time in Germany to further his Venizelos to the establishment of the military education. He participated in the provisional government. When King Greco­Turkish War, the , and Constantine I abdicated, he returned and took the , during which he part in the Macedonian Front. In 1918, he slowly rose to higher ranks. In 1917, when the worked as chief of staff at the headquarter. 6 Venizelists took over, he was dismissed from the army because he was a royalist.11 Themistoklis Sofoulis Speaker of the Parliament Themistoklis Sofoulis was a Greek politician Greek Diplomat who was born in . In his early Nikolaos Politis served as the Greek Minister of years, he was a scholar studying archeology Foreign Affairs. Prior to his post as Minister of and . Later, he entered the politics. Foreign Affairs, Mr. Politis served as a law When Venizelos resigned, he also resigned his professor at a of universities in governorship and served as the Interior before being summoned in 1914 by Prime Minister in the provisional government. In Minister Venizelos to help re­organize the 1917, he returned to Athens and served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.12 Parliament, continuing his support for the . Georgios Kafantaris Position Georgios Kafantaris was born in 1873 in Greek Politician and Royalist Anatoliki and is a Greek politician. He joined Ioannis Metaxas was a Greek general and Prime Minister Venizelos’ cabinet as Minister politician born 1871 in . He served in the of in 1919. He has often been to be Greco­Turkish War and the Balkan War. By at odds with the Prime Minister and it is 1916, he was promoted to a general. During rumored he may be forced to resign by the WWI, he strongly favored Greek neutrality and prime minister himself. was a royalist. Thus, after Constantine I was exiled, he was also removed from office. 7

6 Μεγάλη Στρατιωτική και Ναυτική Εγκυκλοπαιδεία. Τόμος Ε′: Νάβα – Σαρακηνοί [Great Military and Naval Encyclopedia. Volume V] (in Greek). (Athens, 1930), 214–215. 7 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, I oannis Metaxas, E ncyclopædia Britannica, inc.. April 05, 2018. Accessed November 13, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ioannis­Metaxas. 11 Μεγάλη Στρατιωτική και Ναυτική Εγκυκλοπαιδεία. Τόμος Στ′: Σαράντα Εκκλησίαι – Ώχρα [Great Military and Naval Encyclopedia. Volume VI] (in Greek). (Athens, 1930), 573. 12 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Nikolaos Sokrates Politis." (Encyclopædia Britannica, inc, 2018)

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Alexandros Papanastasiou Georgios Kondylis Venizelos Cabinet Member Greek Lieutenant General is a parliamentarian Georgios Kondylis was a Greek general born in who has served in multiple capacities in Prime 1879. He joined the army at the age of 17, then Minister Venizelos’ governments, including fought against Turkish ruling in Cretan. He Minister of National Health, Minister of served in the army during the Balkan War and Transport and Interior Minister. He is seen as some part of WWI. He was mainly supporting an ardent Republican and a supporter of the the Venizelist by the end of WWI, but he may Venizelos’ government. He is a and be more conservative than it seemed. sociologist by profession. Petros Protopapadakis Former Greek Greek Politician Pavlos Kountouriotis was born to a naval Peros Protopapadakis began his political career family and in 1875, he followed the tradition as a professor at the Greek military academy and also joined the Royal Hellenic . He Scholi Evelpidon. In 1902, Petros was elected to took part in the Greco­Turkish war and Balkan the to the conservative Wars and led his fleet to major victory in the Nationalist Party. He currently is still in Battle of Elli and Battle of Limnos. He was not parliament and is a staunch supporter of the supportive of Greek neutrality, thus when conservative Dimitrios Gounaris. Venizelos resigned, he followed him and took a position in his provisional government. By the Alexandros Hatzikyriakos time Constantine I went into exile, he was holding admiral title.14 Alexandros Hatzikyriakos was a Greek Navy officer who served 3 times as Minister for Naval Panagiotis Danglis Affairs. Additionally, he played a major role in Greek Major General the establishment of the Second Hellenic Panagiotis Danglis was a Greek Army general Republic. He fought in the Balkan Wars from and politician who served as chief of staff 1912 to 1913 as of the Doxa, a Greek during the Balkan Wars. During the undeclared . He currently is part of the war of 1878, Danglis served in the army of Provisional Government of National Defense Eastern Greece and was promoted to Second under Prime Minister Venizelos command.13 Lieutenant due to the failed advancements of the war. In 1911, Danglis was promoted to Major General during the First Balkan War. Corinthian Politician Panagis Tsaldaris was a conservative Greek lawyer and politician. He entered politics in 1910 when he was elected into the Corinthian Parliament and has been re­elected multiple times since. Tsaldaris is known to be a loyalist to the and is regarded as an expert amongst his colleagues.

13 Ibid. 14 The Times (London), Friday 29 , p. 12

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Sofoklis Dousmanis Chief of Staff of the Navy Sofoklis Dousmanis was a Greek naval officer who was the chief of the Greek Navy General Staff. Prior to his naval career, he attended and raised up the ranks. He served in the Greek navy until the resignation of King Constantine I. He is currently suspended from command. Dousmanis has many connections throughout the navy due to his extensive career and is very skilled at strategy in small and large­scale battle.

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Topic A : Moving Forward in the Wake of the National Schism

Introduction within the country. Although the country is ruled by the Venizelist Liberals, Modern Greece first found its there still exists a bitter hatred between the footing in the of 1821, when it rose liberals and royalists. Without a clear up against the Ottoman Empire with the answer to the National Schism, Greece will hopes of . The Greeks quickly continue to stay polarized and un­unified. gained support from the European Great Powers. In the in 1827, the , , and France Historical Background recognized the formation of an As the cradle of western , independent Greek state. Since then, Greece’s rule has been fractured into a modern Greece has expanded its borders to patchwork of provincial rule for centuries. encompass parts of , Crete, and For this reason, Greece has lacked a truly other parts surrounding the . unified front since the time of Alexander Greece continued to grow rapidly through the Great. The Ottoman Empire first the turn of the century. Athens became a invaded from Asia Minor in the 15th merchant capital once more and the cities century. For 300 years thereafter, Greeks embraced heavy industry.15 lived under Ottoman rule. This rule With this backdrop, a question still brought to Greece and created remained: who should hold the power to heavily segregated communities based on rule. On the one hand, King Constantine I religion. continues the royal Greek lineage and sees In 1821, the first declaration of parliament as an extension of the independence was made. It would be monarchy. Clashing with the king is the another eight years until the Great Powers young Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos in western recognized Greek who has championed social reform. These independence. When Greece was formed, it tensions fully erupted during the Balkan was specifically engineered to not be a Wars from 1912 to 1913 and again during possible threat to the Ottoman Empire from when the king forced the south. This played a major role in the Venizelos to resign. This was followed by a balance of power in Europe throughout the military coup. This event has come to be . The state originally was known as the “National Schism” or governed as a republic, but after Greek otherwise as the “Great Schism.” Now President was removed two years from the Great War, assassinated, it transformed into a Greece is still fumbling with the aftermath monarchy.16 of the Great Schism and the resultant

15 Rose, Arnold M., ed. The of Advanced Societies. (University of Minnesota Press, 1958), 16 James H. S. McGregor, A thens, (Harvard University Press, 2014). http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.cttttcfp. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt6wpmzq.

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Under its first monarchy, Greece troops, who quickly moved into looked to expand its borders to encompass Macedonia. After other European countries more ethnically Greek people. Its first intervened, fighting was paused with the opportunity was in 1853 during the signing of an armistice which proved between Russia and the extremely costly for Greece. Reparations Ottoman Empire. Although Greece was constrained the economy considerably. poised to take advantage of the situation, However, Greece nevertheless achieved a the king failed to work with other powers diplomatic victory, as Crete became an to launch offensives and failed to expand. autonomous state. The defeat also instilled This led to the abdication of the king. His a strong sense of and support replacement, George I, father of for the , or the idea of a unified Constantine I, would assume power in and powerful Greece. 1863. Over the next fifty years, as the Greek state grew in power, the monarchy Megali Idea ­ the Great Idea simultaneously grew in popularity among 17 The spirit of the Greek Megali Idea, the people. or Great Idea, was to unite all ethnically Greek lands. First used by Prime Minister Ottoman Offensive 1897 in 1844, the vision was to In 1897, the island of Crete, under liberate Greek people from long­lasting Ottoman rule, became the center of crisis as Ottoman rule and reclaim the lands that the island’s Christian population was being once made up the .19 The violently persecuted. The Greek idea dominated domestic and foreign government, without the support of other policy throughout modern Greek history powers, send a naval force to support the and became a symbol for the state at large. Cretans sparking an international crisis that The goal was specifically to unite the would develop into the 1897 in , , Macedonia, Offensive. Crete, , , and the The Great Powers immediately scattered throughout the Aegean Sea.20 retaliated to the Greek invasion with a After the 1897 offensive, the Greek blockade of the island blocking both Greek military leadership became heavily and Ottoman troops. In response, the dissatisfied with the king. In 1909, a group Ottoman Empire dispatched a portion of of younger Greek army officers staged a troops to the northern border of Greece in coup. As their leader, they chose the young Macedonia. The two sides stationed troops liberal politician Eleftherios Venizelos from at the border expecting conflict. Although Crete. He established the Liberal party, the no explicit command was given, Greek and first true ideological party in Greece. A year Bulgarian irregulars used the opportunity after the coup, Venizelos won the post of to skirmish Ottoman troops, emboldened Prime Minister in a landslide and began a by the idea of a united Greece.18 massive program of reforms to the This small encounter led to a quick economy, the , and the army.21 push by the far more modernized Ottoman 19 D. Bolukbasi and D. Bölükbaşı, And Greece: The Aegean Disputes, (Routledge Cavendish 2004). 17 William Peter Kaldis, T he American Historical Review 86, no. 3 20 Bowman, John S., Loring Danforth, Richard Ralph Mowbray (1981): 619­20. Clogg, Catherine Delano Smith, and John Frederick Haldon. 18 Rodogno, Davide. "The Second Intervention in Crete "Greece." Encyclopædia Britannica. November 07, 2018. Accessed (1896–1900)," in A gainst Massacre: Humanitarian Interventions in the November 13, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece. Ottoman Empire, 1815­1914, (Princeton: 21 , E leftherios Venizelos : the trials of Press, 2012), 212­28. statesmanship, (Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2008.)

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The spirit of the Great Idea is used Venizelos was much more popular. The often to justify the invasion into Asia Minor two disagreed on tactics, but Venizelos today and is widely supported by the ultimately won out. While not publicized, Greek people. Under Venizelos, Greece this incident sparked bitter relations would expand and double in size quickly in between the two.22 pursuit of becoming a . Greece and the Great War First Balkan War and First Greek Neutrality and Involvement Emergence of Crisis When ­Hungary attacked During the same time as the coup in in 1914, beginning what would be Greece, a Turkish independence movement known as World War I, Greece’s was also began to gain traction. Beginning in obligated per treaty to help Serbia. Prime 1908, Turkish nationals began to gain Minister Venizelos wanted Greece to honor support within the Ottoman Empire. Over its commitment. Venizelos also believed the the next couple of years, the goal of the Triple Entente had maritime supremacy Young , a Turkish nationalist group, and would eventually win the war. Once was for a modern and purely Turkish state. the Ottoman Empire joined the Central However, this was at the expense of the Powers, Venizelos stated repeatedly that many within the Ottoman the Great War was the last chance to empire. This gave Greece and other Balkan liberate the Greeks still in Western Anatolia countries a common enemy to unite and the Southern coastline. Most against. Under British pressure, Serbia and of the officers from the 1909 coup sided allowed Greece to join their with Venizelos. , for Greece was the only one who On the other side was King had a navy able to stop a Turkish Constantine, who flatly refused to fulfill amphibious . Together, they fought any previously agreed upon obligations. the first Balkan War against the Ottomans. An absolutist with strong German ties who For Greece, it was a triumph. By the War’s admired German militarism and was conclusion, they had gained the Aegean himself an honorary German Marshal, he Islands, Crete, most of Epirus, and a chunk believed Germany would win. of Macedonia that included the capital Additionally, he was born to King George, Salonika. This doubled Greek territory in who was put into power by the Triple just two years. Entente in 1863. Constantine was groomed Although Greece and Bulgaria had from birth to believe that Greece was allied against the Ottomans in the first destined to become a in the Balkan War in 1912, both had hopes of Mediterranean. He is the first Greek­born expanding into the same Ottoman territory. prince. Greeks demanded his name to pay After the first War, Bulgaria launched an homage to Constantine XI, the last assault on the new land Greece had in Byzantine emperor to hold . Macedonia. This led to a coalition between From youth, he was tutored in the Megali and Greece against the Idea. He enrolled in the Greek Military and the first test of power between King Academy in 1882 and after his graduation Constantine I and Prime Minister four years later, continued his military

Venizelos. Although Constantine was 22 Dimitris Keridis, H istorical dictionary of modern Greece, (Lanham, proclaimed the commander in chief, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2009.)

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education in , serving in the German publicly showed the growing disagreement Imperial Guard and studying business and between the two sides.26 .23 When he returned to Athens in 1890, Constantine I was much Effects on Leadership more driven by the ideals of absolutism in This move enraged Constantine, conjunction with a greater Greece, in who in return used his constitutional power opposition to the free united Greece that 24 to dissolve the entire government, forcing Venizelos championed. Venizelos resignation and sparking the On the King’s side were the General National Schism. This had grown since Staff and most of the senior army officers. the Balkan Wars and ranks of royalists and The old political elite and the upper middle liberals grew on both sides. class of the “Old Lands” who were Once the government of Venizelos marginalized by Venizelos reform was dissolved, the King ordered new programs also joined the King’s side, as elections to be had, but many saw this they needed him to remain politically mandate unlawful. Liberal supporters viable. The Church, which had immense organized a provisional government influence, believed in Divine Right and was outside Athens with allied support. By thus firmly Royalist. Constantine did not 1916, armed confrontations increased and want to join the . Much as full seemed inevitable. Greece was he supported Germany and effectively split into two. In June of 1917, Austria­, he knew there was no the king abdicated, and way Greeks would ally themselves with the Alexander took his place, leading to Ottomans or Bulgarians, and he knew Venizelos’ return to power. One month Germany and Austro­Hungary could not later, Greece officially declared war against give Greece much in return, so he favored 25 the Central Powers. Because of its neutrality. participation in the war, Greece was able to When planning for the secure new land in the Treaty of Sevres. 27 Campaign and breaking through the The political divide between began in 1915, the Triple royalists and liberals still shapes Greek Entente requested that Greece join in, politics today. Each side blames the other promising Western Anatolia in return. for instability. The royalists point to a Venizelos immediately accepted but the liberal backed blockade of Greece by the Greek General Staff and king declined. Entente which crippled Greece but did Venizelos saw this as a clear opportunity to secure any political gains. Liberals saw the deal with the Ottomans and while he was king’s rule as illegitimate and that the rule not able to bring Greece into the war, he of Greece should come from the people. allowed British troops to use as a planning stage. The king, on the other hand, had already ordered the unconditional surrender of a fort to German forces in Macedonia which 26 Hassiotis, Loukianos. "Greece." 1914­1918 Online. Accessed November 13, 2018. https://encyclopedia.1914­1918­online.net/article/greece. 23 "Greek Monarchy Returned." World Affairs 98, no. 4 (1935): 213. 27 Nick Danforth, "Forget Sykes­Picot. It's the Treaty of Sèvres http://www.jstor.org/stable/20662661. That Explains the Modern ." (Foreign Policy, August 24 Andrew Dalby, E leftherios Venizelos: Greece. (London: Haus 11, 2015), Accessed November 13, 2018. Publishing, 2010). https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/10/sykes­picot­treaty­of­sev 25 Ibid. res­modern­turkey­middle­east­borders­turkey/.

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Impact on War with the Entente in the Great War, Greece currently holds favorable status with many allied Ottoman Empire countries. It receives funding as well as The management of the instability naval assistance against the Ottoman within Greece will determine its success in Empire. This position may change, the campaign in Asia Minor. While the however, if Greece looks to revert back to a invasion has support from the Allied in favor of the Powers, Greece’s assault on the Ottoman royalist agenda.28 The assistance and Black Sea coastline has been more difficult reliance on Allied support seems to than anticipated. This has stalled the contradict with the principles of the Magali campaign in a country that seems to be Idea which sees Greece as an independent fractured by civil war, as well as attacked state detached from European politics. on multiple fronts. Without a successful effort by the Venizelos To gain ground in Anatolia, the government to satisfy the mandate to create Greek government must be able to focus on a united Greece, the government may not its military strategy and not be distracted be able to continue to rule as opposition by domestic troubles. However, the two are mounts against it. ultimately linked. Because ’ power resides entirely with the will of the people, if it proves itself incompetent on either the domestic or foreign front, it may be unable to prevent the other from worsening. If Greece is unable to make any decisive expansions, the people will fold on their support for the war. Already, royalists have accused liberals of mismanaging the war. Notably, the government that has not been up for election since Venizelos took power from Constantine in 1917. However, if the Liberals completely ignore the domestic front in favor of expanding abroad, they may lose the trust of the people or find themselves the victims of an unexpected Royalist coup. Delegates must balance these two needs expertly if they are to succeed.

Greece’s Position in Europe Since the inception of modern Greece, Europe has always ensured that its power was checked. The Ottoman Empire was always seen as the needed power in the Balkans to maintain peace. Due to the Great War and the breakdown of Great Power 28 politics, the Ottoman Empire was not able Visvizi­Dontas, Domna. "GREECE," in The New Guide to the Diplomatic Archives of , edited by Thomas to fulfill that role. With its support of the Daniel H. and Case Lynn M., 155­64. (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1975), http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv4s7jt0.11.

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Questions to Consider

1. How should Greece act in the wake of 2. Should Greece trust the Allied Powers? the national division? Greece was forced into the First World War Should Greece follow the global liberal order by the Allies. Should Greece regard the Allied by following the policies of Eleftherios Powers as friends, or as cold imperialists who Venizelos, or should it use the global chaos to regard Greece as only a stepping stone? instill a direct monarchy?

3. Should Greece remain a monarchy? 4. Should Greece continue to follow the Greece could choose to fully abolish its Megali Idea? monarchy. It could also choose to keep the Much of Greek is derived from a monarchy for its ceremonial and sentimental belief that the country of Greece should value, similar to the monarchy in Britain. include all Greek people ­­ even if it requires However, answering this question should be conquering other lands to do so. However, is done carefully, as executing any policy poorly it still viable for the country to do so, or may tear the country apart. should it focus more inwardly?

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Concluding Remarks

Although the Kingdom of Greece is not considered to be a superpower by many European countries, the Greek people and its government hold great ambitions. However, it cannot fulfill its hopes for a larger unified Greece until it the division within its own country. The tension between the monarchy and the civilian government has made the country exceedingly politically unstable. Power must be asserted, either by the Royalists, the Liberals, or some combination thereof that can bring the two sides together. Whichever side that comes to dominate the government must also decide what the future of Greece should come to be. While each side does have some goals in mind, these must be further specified and implemented. This committee must decide, for example, how the government shall operate and how it will be protected from coups from the losing side of this domestic struggle. Looking abroad, Greece found itself on the winning side of the Great War and has now been promised land abroad, land that Greeks believe they have historic claims to. However, delegates must be thoughtful. The Allies have their own interests, and these must be considered when choosing the next steps. This committee should above all prioritize the interests of the Greek people. That being said, the Allied powers may be convinced, if the Greeks can sufficiently prove an alignment of interests, to help Greek efforts to protect Greeks that live beyond their present borders. However, some may argue that Greece should focus its interests domestically above all else, and avoid being tricked by the Allied powers into another costly war. Delegates must determine which side can be believed. ∎

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Topic B : The Asia Minor Campaign against the Ottomans

Introduction they were finally avenging the Greek city­states that were under so much Besides internal division, the pressure from the Ottoman invaders. This Kingdom of Greece is also establishing idea was kept quiet because some leaders itself by replacing the presence of Ottoman believed this ideal could suppress the urge Turks. Ever since the to follow the Megali Idea. in 1453, when Greece fell into the hands of the Ottoman Empire, the Orthodox

Christian Greeks have been treated as Greece and the Ottoman Empire second­class citizens.29 As a result of Greece and the Ottoman Empire religious difference, the Greek residents in have historically been enemies for the Ottoman Empire were able to remain centuries. Although the Ottoman Empire strongly conscious of their national occupied the land and established an identity. Now that their biggest opponent, administration, the Greek people still the Ottoman Empire lost in the Great War, maintained a strong national identity Greece now has the opportunity to realize through the and the Megali Idea, restoring all Greek the language that distinguishes themselves historical land and protect Greek Orthodox from the . When the Christians from their once oppressive Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Muslim neighbors.30 Ottomans, the Greek people also refused to succumb by either moving to Western Europe (a factor for ) or moving Historical Background into the where the Turks cannot reach. Some within Greece, therefore, and Persia believe that the very survival of the Greek The defense of Greece in the battle of state depends on the defeat of the has always been romanticized Ottomans. Because of this, from the in Greek history because it symbolizes the revolution for Greek independence to the East­ divide. This romanticized ideal end of the First World War, Greece has still continues on in Greek and Western attempted to inhibit the modernization and society.31 While invading western Anatolia, economic growth of the Ottoman Empire. many Greek politicians commented that Similarly, one of the major international agendas of the Ottoman Empire was to 29 T he American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Ed. undermine the support of Europe for (Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004) 30 "Greece." Accessed November 13, 2018. Greece, so that it can, one way or another, http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/g one day reconquer the lost lands of Greece. reece/introduction.html. 31 Kate Lohnes and Donald Sommerville, B attle of Thermopylae, (Encyclopædia Britannica. June 05, 2018. Accessed November 13, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle­of­Thermopylae­Gree k­history­480­BC.

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Ottoman Empire Greek Invasion of Turkey Post­Great War Defeat The promise of Land by the Allies Defeat in the Great War was a truly After the Great War, many states traumatic experience for the Turks. They wanted to take huge portions of land by lost their holy lands (Jerusalem, Mecca), now the ‘dead man of Europe’, the their empire and many lives. This traumatic Ottoman Empire. The Greeks and Italians, experience created an ideology in the hearts in particular, pushed heavily for Ottoman of most Turks for a free state that could lands. By the end of the War, the Allies had finally stop the 300 year long period of slow managed to bring to their side by descent, and finally enable them to rise up promising Italy portions of southwest as a unified nation. Between 1890 and 1914, Anatolia. But after the War ended, they the Ottoman Empire has already lost realized how weak the Italian Army was. control of a significant portion of their So, to encourage the Greeks to invade the economic and financial sector. By 1914, Western Anatolia, the Allies decided that important sectors such as railroad they would give the lands initially construction, mining, banking, and promised to the Italians to the Greeks. This financial centers were all under European would later cause Italy to side with the Axis control. By the time Greece entered the powers in the Second World War, but it Allied Side in 1917, the major European was enough to encourage Greece to invade countries had already settled the Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor. At dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire Versailles, the British supported the Greek between Britain, France, and Russia by the claim to the and western Sykes­Picot Agreement.32 While Russia Anatolia. Thus, as soon as Venizelos would have the Armenian provinces, Great returned to power as Prime Minister, he Britain and France divided up , , quickly purged the government branches , and Palestine.33 However, due to and ordered the Greek army to the Russian withdrawal in 1917, slight Macedonian front. In 1918, the Allied adjustments were made.34 When Venizelos Forces signed the Mudros Armistice and personally traveled to London to converse started moving into Turkish territory. In with Lloyd George, he received some 1919 May, with the consent of Lloyd assurance to commission George, Clemenceau, and President Wilson, to Turkey, acquisition of partial formerly Venizelos sent Greek forces to .36 Turkish South , and the promise of Smyrna, which was formerly promised to Italy. The intention of this offer was to Current Positions in Smyrna and secure the empire’s route to . 35 Anatolia Until the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Smyrna remained an Ottoman city with a 37 32 George Leontaritis, G reece and the First World War: From large Greek population. The Greek forces Neutrality to Intervention, 1917­1918, (B oulder: East European are currently just landing at Symira. They Monographs, 1990), 374. 33 are being welcomed by the minority of Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, T reaty of Sevres, (Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc, 2018). 34 George Leontaritis, G reece and the First World War: From Neutrality to Intervention, 1917­1918, (B oulder: East European 36 , M odern Greece, ( Walden: Hart­Talbot Monographs, 1990), 404. Printers Ltd., 1981), 25. 35 Peter Jensen, The Greco­Turkish War, 1920­1922, (Cambridge 37 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, I zmir, ( Encyclopaedia University Press, 1979) Britannica, inc, 2017).

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Greeks living in the , but many Turkish to .40 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk families, fearing pillaging, rape and torture became a natural leader to fight for these are fleeing to other parts of Anatolia. These goals in this time of chaos and need for a accusations have led to some concerns from leader. Even though initially, Mustafa the international community and may Kemal was only ordered to organize an increase support for local Turkish army in Anatolia to avoid anarchy, he nationalists if Greece is not careful. In fact, intentionally requested an order that gave in an attempt to stop the Greeks, the him extensive power. He departed from Turkish National Movement has already , traveled along the Black Sea, begun to try to gather a sizable force, but called the Erzurum Congress in , the dire situation is inhibiting them from and established a provisional government.41 doing so. Among the Turks who were The Liberal government has agreed self­organizing to fight back, Mustafa to recognize the Turkish independence at a Kemal returned to Istanbul. Witnessing the later date. But for now, as the war rages on, Allied forces entering the city, he was they neither condemn nor support any determined to restore Turkish land.38 sides. There are some in the Greek government that suggest supporting the The Rise of the Turkish National Turkish National Movement so that it can undermine the current Ottoman Monarchy Movement in Istanbul. However many politicians The Greek invasion of Smyrna didn’t believe this to be a poor strategy as the meet resistance from the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman monarchy is already under British but there was an intense response from the influence and the troops of the Turkish Turkish people, first through protest and National Movement is the only force that later through guerrilla activities. 39 This can resist the Greek Armies. The initial plan ideal of a unified nationalistic nation that of the Liberal Government was to push for could stop foreign invasion is romanticized peace with the newly forming Turkish in the hearts of nearly every Turk. The National movement, but after getting remains of the Ottoman Committee of drawn into an invasion by the Allies, they Union and Progress (CUP) laid a good might disregard this idea going on. foundation for future resistance. Ottoman CUP ruled in an authoritarian fashion during the Great War. Although it was Expansion of Territory and formally dissolved in 1918, it still initiated Demographics the first resistance against the Greeks and Greece now faces a difficult protected the Muslim population against situation. Greece can either follow the potential Christian retaliation by forming liberal ideals of their government and the secret Karacol Society in Istanbul. Later, combine the newly­conquered Ottoman the National Defence unified these populations into their societies or they will organizations and became the main force in follow a more conservative approach and arranging manpower and ammunition in request an exchange of populations with Anatolia as well as providing information the Ottoman Empire. With Western

38 Norman Itzkowitz, K emal Ataturk, (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 40 Erol Ülker, T urkish National Movement, Mass Mobilization, and inc, 2018). Demographic Change in Istanbul, 1922­1923, (Springer Fachmedien 39 Reza Azarian, N ationalism in Turkey: Response to a Historical GmbH, 2017). Necessity, (International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 41 Norman Itzkowitz, M ustafa Kemal, (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2011). inc, 2018).

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Anatolia covering an expanse of almost 30,000 square , it will be difficult to control the territory without direct support from much of the population. While there is no guarantee Greece will be able to continue conquering territory or even be able to maintain already­conquered territory, it would be prudent to figure out what to do with any conquered peoples, especially non­Greeks. To this end, two choices come into focus. One choice would be to provide citizenship or something similar to any current Ottomans who may live within conquered lands. While this would support the democratic ideals of Greek Liberals, it would perhaps not please the Greeks who live in Anatolia or Greece proper. Additionally, given the current situation in Smyrna driven by ethnic and religious tensions, it may not be feasible to integrate these peoples together. The other option is a ‘population exchange’. This would require pushing out Turks and Muslims who live within Greek territory, as well as pushing out any Greeks who live in Ottoman territory. This would potentially best fulfill the Megali Idea but may also prove logistically difficult to achieve given the number of Greeks living in Ottoman territory and Ottomans living in Greek territory.

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Questions to Consider

1. Should Greece trust the United 2. Should Greece pursue peace or Kingdom? continue its invasion of Turkey? It was the idea of the Allies for Greece to Greece’s invasion of Turkey has not been as invade Turkey. Should Greece comply with easy as originally hoped for. Should Greece the pressings of Britain and invade Turkey, or negotiate with Turkey for a peaceful end to should it declare that it is an independent this conflict, or should it adjust its military nation by not complying with Britain, and use strategy and continue to pursue expansion the resources that would be spent in the war within Turkey? on industry and economic growth instead?

3. How should Greece behave to the new 4. Should Greece recognize the Turkish groups of people that it conquers? Independence Movement? These peoples include the Bulgarians, Turks, Is it more likely that the Turkish and Muslims. Should it grant citizenship to Independence Movement will serve as a all of its subjects or should it deport all of for the Ottoman government or them in the exchange for their own that they’ll pose a unique threat to Greek population in other lands? expansion?

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Concluding Remarks

Greece has just begun its expansion into Anatolia with Allied backing. However, the campaign has already proven itself to be more difficult than expected. Several issues have arisen. The first is the ignition of ethnic tensions within the . Although the Greeks living within the area, the delegates of this committee may want to consider the potential fallout from their occupation, particularly in the form of Allied support and the rise of the Turkish National Movement. The second is Allied support. While potentially a necessary evil if the pursuit of Turkish land is prioritized, a true pursuit of the Magali Idea would be one made on the terms of Greek interests alone. Beyond that, Greece does not want to prove itself a puppet for Allied interests, especially given that Greece will foot the costs of this expansion. The third is the rise of the Turkish National Movement. Although a potential distraction for the Ottoman government, this Movement may prove to be the only threat to Greece’s rise to power. That being said, the Movement as it stands is likely too weak to stop Greece on its own. Of course, the first part of Greece’s policy abroad to be considered is whether it should be abroad in the first place. The Megali Idea has proven central to Greek identity and many Greeks abroad want to be a part of the Greek state. The Liberals may, in fact, gain popular support with further expansion abroad because of this. But if it’s at the expense of domestic growth, it may simply not be worth it. ∎

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