The occupation of Izmir by the Greeks, which was one of the most painful events in these lands, was actually not approved by the world, but the Greeks were lying to the world. The Admiral Bristol Report revealed the injustice of this occupation and announced it to the whole world. Let’s take a closer look at what the Admiral Bristol Report is.
As a result of the wrong decisions taken in the Ottoman Empire, the occupation process of our country started after the First World War and this occupation continued until it ended with the War of Independence. It is really sad that the Greeks, whom we have known for years as neighbors, are among those occupying our lands. Moreover, the Greeks lying to the whole world in violation of international rules they have occupied.
It is at this point that the importance of the Admiral Bristol Report emerges. The Ottomans had shouted to the whole world that the Greeks had occupied İzmir, but this justification of ours has only been proven by the Admiral Bristol Report. This report, which is extremely important in this respect, also shows how valuable the law was even during the war. Bride What is the Admiral Bristol Report Let’s examine it closely and talk about its importance in the historical process.
What is the Admiral Bristol Report? History, importance and articles:
What is the Admiral Bristol Report?
Before going into details, it is useful to explain in general what the Admiral Bristol Report is. On May 15, 1919, after the First World War Izmir was actually occupied by the Greeks. This situation is against the Wilson principles declared by the United States of America on January 8, 1918 and international law.
The concept of occupation has been removed from world literature under the Wilson Principles, but the Greeks tried to justify this occupation. They lie to the whole world. This unjust invasion of the Greeks, who said that Christians were persecuted, that the number of Greeks living in Izmir was more than the Turks, and that they came to the region to bring peace, was reported to the whole world by the Ottomans.
He went to Izmir to investigate the claims of the Greeks and Turks, an officer in the United States army. A delegation headed by Rear Admiral Mark Lambert Bristol was sent. There are also representatives of Italy, France and England in this delegation. As a result of the investigations of the delegation, a report called the Admiral Bristol Report was published and the unjust occupation of the Greeks was announced to the whole world.
When was the Admiral Bristol Report published? Date:
The Greek Occupation of Izmir, which started on May 15, 1919, was ended on September 9, 1922, with the struggle of the Turkish nation that would become the subject of epics. The invaders left as they came. However, the Admiral Bristol Report was published on 22 June 1919, long before the end of the occupation.
The publication date of the Admiral Bristol Report is of the utmost importance. Because after the occupation of İzmir, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born on 19 May 1919. He went to Samsun and started the national struggle. The publication of this report right after it proved to the whole world that the War of Independence started by our nation was justified.
Why was the Admiral Bristol Report prepared?
It is possible to say that the Admiral Bristol Report was prepared thanks to the United States of America. Because the USA was later involved in the First World War and acting as a mediator This led to the end of the bloody war. A set of rules, later called the Wilson Principles, were published by the then US President Woodrow Wilson to regulate post-war policies.
The Wilson Principles prevent the winning countries from invading the losing countries after the First World War. However There is a gap in these principles. The population density of the people living in any region determines which country that region will be. Taking advantage of this gap, the Greeks started the invasion of İzmir with lies such as the Christians being persecuted in İzmir, the Greeks being outnumbered in the region and bringing peace.
Of course, all of these claims made by the Greeks are false. Mistake It was the Greeks themselves who shed blood in the region. The Ottomans announced this situation to the whole world and said that it was an invasion. For this reason, a special delegation was sent to the region and the Admiral Bristol Report was prepared at the end.
Admiral Bristol Report items:
- the Greeks; They gave false information to the Paris Peace Conference that the safety of Christians was in danger.
- It is the Greeks, not the Turks, who perpetrate the massacres in Western Anatolia.
- The aim of the Greeks is not to establish peace in the region, but to occupy these lands and take them under their sovereignty.
- Greek soldiers should withdraw from the region as soon as possible.
- Turkish population is the majority in the region.
- The Turkish people in the region are being tortured and persecuted by the Greeks.
Headed by Admiral Bristol, with representatives of Italy, France and England Delegation to Izmir, By visiting every inch of the region and even examining the graves, they prepared the Admiral Bristol Report containing these items and announced to the whole world that the Greek occupation of İzmir was unjust.
Significance of the Admiral Bristol Report:
The greatest importance of the Admiral Bristol Report in terms of the history of our country, It is the first international official document showing that the national struggle of the Turks is justified. In this way, it was announced to the whole world that the struggle for the War of Independence was right, and it was proved that the Turkish nation suffered the most in this process.
The Admiral Bristol Report clearly proves that the Greeks occupied the region with the aim of seizing Turkish territory. Thanks to this report, the support given to Greeks from different countries was cut off.
Before the Admiral Bristol Report was published, the whole world believed that the Turks were persecuting minorities in the region. However, this report revealed that The real perpetrators of the massacre were Greek soldiers and Greek gangs with foreign support. Taking all these into account, to make a final comment, it is possible to say that thanks to the Admiral Bristol Report, the Turkish national struggle has proven its right in the eyes of the world.
Without the Admiral Bristol Report:
The internal structure of empires is extremely complex. People of many different religions, nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, coexist in the imperial lands. However, such differences create different consciousness in some groups. A small spark can create a huge flame when this false consciousness is supported by the colonial powers who say they should seize these places, even though there is already an opportunity.
This is exactly what happened between Greeks and Turks. A group of deviants carried out massacres supported by foreign powers. Then, Turkish groups that wanted to protect themselves were declared murderers by the states mentioned in the world. As a result, a powerless state with foreign support came and started an unlimited invasion.
How important domestic and international law is, even in the bloodiest times of war. We see it thanks to the Admiral Bristol Report. Even when an independent committee comes and makes a brief examination, everything becomes clear. Without the Admiral Bristol Report, we might never have been able to prove ourselves right. Everyday politics may lie, but history never hides the truth.
Proving the rightness of the national struggle to the whole world What is the Admiral Bristol Report By answering the question, we talked about the importance of this report in the historical process. Let’s hope that such a report will not be written again, nor will our nation experience such things again.