An Example of the Threat From Italy To Turkey: Piracy in the Mediterranean

Abstract

In August 1937, with the sinking of Spanish ships in front of Bozcaada and the sighting of foreign submarines in the Sea of Marmara, the Italian threat from piracy affected Turkey for the first time. While Turkey took measures against foreign submarines, including sinking them in the Sea of Marmara, it endeavored to prevent the possibilities that could create an atmosphere of conflict with Italy in the Aegean Sea. In the Anglo-French plan, which was first discussed at the Nyon Conference against piracy, it was envisaged that the north of the Aegean Sea would be controlled by the Turkish and the Soviet Union, and the south of it would be controlled by the navies of Greece and Yugoslavia. Due to the tension between the Soviet Union and Italy, Atat & uuml;rk saw this situation as ananti-Italy initiative and brought up the issue of giving assurance to Turkey against Italy. Prime Minister & Idot;smet & Idot;n & ouml;n & uuml; also thought that this situation harbored the possibility of conflict with Italy and argued that guarantees should be requested from England and France. As a result of the objections of Greece and Yugoslavia as well as Turkey; England and France had to undertake duty in the Aegean Sea against piracy. The fact that Turkey, Greece and Yugoslavia did not want Italy to take part in the Aegean Sea during the negotiations for Italy's participation in the Mediterranean Agreements, and that they would not allow it to enter the territorial waters and ports, shows that the Balkan Pact states implemented a common policy against Italy. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' advocacy that in the face of the problems experienced in the process of Italy's accession to the Mediterranean Agreements, it was necessary to establish a policy together with Greece and Yugoslavia, explains this situation