Abstract

The debate about the Lausanne Conference were held at the British Parliament between November 23, 1922 and February 28, 1924. Most of the Members congratulated the Government on the tearing up the Treaty of Sevres. However, some members have some objections about the peace, and criticised the policy tovvards the Armenians by asking whether they were goîng to have some comer preserved for themselves, under proper protection or not? Besides, the same members who complained that Britain was staying in Mesopotamıa for oil raised the Mosul question. Some of- fered that some part of Turkey should be given to the Armenians, in retum Mosul would be left to Turkey. Nearly ali members claimed that Christian minorities in Turkey were made the instruments of British policy. They ac- cused the British Government of not defending nonMuslim rights enough. While Labour Party members were criticising the British demands from Turkey on the Straits and Mosul questions, the Liberal MP's urged that Britain should follow a firm policy towards Turkey. Some Conservative and Labour MP's also blamed Lord Curzon for the failure of the first period of the Conference, Hovvcver in the end, they stated that the Lasanne Treaty was to some extent satisfactory and will bring peace to the Near East.