(CONFIDENTIAL) NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT DODECANES FROM TRIPOLI WAR TO LAUSANNE TREATY

Island groups which were called as “Agean Islands” during Byzantium era and called as Dodecanes by translating from Greek language were under the domination of Ottoman State from 16th century until Tripoli War. Dodecanes which were occupied by Italy during Tripoli War became a moot point between Turkey, Greece and Italy and this discussions continued during Balkan Wars, The First World War and after the National War of Independence. Dodecanes for which three countries struggled, were given to Italy in Lausanne Peace Conference without any negotiation, in the same conference Agean Islands issue discussed between Turkey and Greece and Castellorizo issue was discussed between Italy and Turkey. Although Dodecanes issue was not discussed during Lausanne PeaceConference, the head of Greek Delegation, Eleftherios Venizelos, endeavored for Dodecanes with the confidential correspondences conducted with Foreign Office and Harold Nicolson. In this paper not only the negotiations and discussions about Dodecanes from Tripoli War to Lausanne Conference but the confidential correspondences of Venizelos to take the Dodecanes will be evaluated in the light of Benaki Museum Venizelos Archive documents