The Wilson Principles and the 'wolf in sheep's clothing'

To explain the plans and practices that imperialism and its collaborators continue to pursue to achieve their goals on the lands of the Republic of Turkey with their historical background, to remind in order to refresh memories… What is happening today, and what they want to be experienced, is not new…

US imperialism updates and markets its rhetoric of 'democracy', 'freedom', 'peace', and 'human rights' in almost every period. In our article titled 'Wilson Principles, lovers of imperialism, and those enamored with Sèvres', we stated that we would touch upon the Wilson Principles and these so-called 'peace' principles from 107 years ago, which sparked joy and hope among our 'intellectuals' against the US and the mandate…

'WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING'

The principles that went down in history under the name 'Wilson Principles', voiced by the US President of the time, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, in his speech to the US Congress on January 8, 1918, consist of 14 articles in total. They cover the views of the US regarding the world order it dreamed of after the First World War.

In short; it is the declaration of the US's war aims!

When viewed in general, it looks very pleasant. There are many principles and topics such as disarmament, colonial peoples, borders of states, self-determination, and peacekeeping! Like a 'wolf in sheep's clothing'…
Some intellectuals and writers wholeheartedly supported these 'liberal imperial' principles as a brand-new dream(!) of an earth designed by the US, where exploitation ends and justice and equality prevail. It is probably no coincidence that these intellectuals are in lands that imperialism aims to divide and fragment. Is it a coincidence that one of these is the Ottoman Empire, whose lands were wanted to be divided piece by piece?

Articles of the Wilson Principles…

The 14-article declaration is as follows:

Article 1: Peace negotiations should be conducted openly to the public, and the provisions of the treaty to be reached at the end of the negotiations should also be open. Secret treaties should be ended.

Article 2: The parts of the seas outside territorial waters should be open to free and unrestricted use by everyone in war and peace, except for special situations required by international treaties.

Article 3: Economic barriers should be removed as much as possible, and free trade and equal opportunity should be ensured.

Article 4: The armament of nations should be at the lowest levels required by internal security, and it should be ensured that sufficient guarantees are provided in this regard.

Article 5: All colonial claims should be subject to egalitarian and fair regulations that take into account the interests and sovereignty demands of the relevant peoples.

Article 6: Occupied Russian territories should be evacuated, the right of Russians to choose their own systems should be granted, and all kinds of assistance they want/need should be provided to them.

Article 7: Belgian territory should be evacuated and the national sovereignty of this state should be restored.

Article 8: Alsace-Lorraine, which passed to Germany in 1871, should be returned to France.

Article 9: Italy's borders should be redrawn according to national principles.

Article 10: The autonomous development of the peoples within the Austro-Hungarian Empire should be ensured.

Article 11: The territories of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated, and Serbia's access to the sea should be ensured. Friendly relations should be established between Balkan states within borders to be drawn by taking into account historical claims and national ties, and their political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be under international guarantee.

Article 12: Turkish sovereignty should be guaranteed in the parts of the Ottoman Empire where the majority of the population is Turkish; the life security and autonomous development of other nations within the Empire's borders should be ensured. The Dardanelles should be made permanently open to all ships and trade under international guarantees.

Article 13: A Polish state should be established in the lands where Poles live, with access to the sea, whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity are guaranteed by international treaties.

Article 14: A league of nations should be established through special treaties to mutually guarantee the political independence and territorial integrity of all states, small and large.

THE US'S REAL GOAL…

These principles can be evaluated as the reflection of the principles of the 'Progressivism' movement, which was developing in the 19th century and of which Wilson was a leading representative, into foreign policy.
The US aimed to pursue a policy of going beyond the geography it was in and taking advantage of the state of the great powers of Europe, which had weakened due to a World War it had entered. The essence of the matter was that it wanted to pursue an imperial/expansionist policy. In the east of the map, it was pursuing the desire to detach societies from the empires they were part of with rhetoric such as 'the right to self-determination' and 'peace'.
This declaration also included a move against the policies of the Soviets towards Eastern societies…

A LIFESAVING HAND?

If we look at Article 12, which directly concerns the Ottoman Empire in particular, when considered together with Article 5, which includes the 'right of nations to self-determination', it creates the feeling that independence will be provided to all nations in the Middle East. Divide, fragment, rule… Imagine the Middle East of today and the Greater Middle East Project (BOP) map that imperialism desires…

On the other hand, some Ottoman intellectuals who wanted to establish an independent Turkish state within national borders saw Article 12, which includes the statement 'Turkish sovereignty should be guaranteed in the parts where the majority of the population is Turkish', and Article 5, which contains the 'right of nations to self-determination', as a 'lifesaving hand'… They were clinging to the rope of the American mandate, in a way… They even founded the 'Wilson Principles Society' on December 4, 1918…
The Kuvvacılar (National Forces), on the other hand, marched towards salvation with the goal of full independence under the motto 'Mandate and Protection cannot be accepted'.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha said, "Wilson Principles: There were parts of the 14 articles of these principles that concerned Turkey. The Ottoman State, which was already defeated and had signed an armistice, was occupied for a time with the heart-warming mirage of these principles."

The Wilson Principles, the Paris Peace Conference, the Armistice of Mudros, and Sèvres were all thrown into the dustbin of history… What is valid is Lausanne!

IMPERIALISM AND ITS NEVER-ENDING GAMES...

Imperialism is in pursuit of implementing its plans in every period with a different guise and identity, with separate rhetoric and games… The US President of the time, Wilson, also proposed a liberal-flavored imperial program 107 years ago… Along with the rhetoric of free economy and trade…
Although the color of the US's practices in the oppressed geography, especially in the Middle East, Central and South America, has changed to this day, its content and goal have always been the same…
In countries that are planned upon and that will supposedly attain freedom, progress, and become civilized by the hand of imperialism, those who claim their national unity and independence are seen as 'backward', 'racist', and 'enemies of civilization and innovation'. Imperialism and its collaborators, who exploit their nation and land economically, socially, and culturally, are evaluated as 'libertarian', 'peace-loving', and 'civilized'. Even if time changes, it is the same…


Bibliography:

- İhsan Şerif Kaymaz, 'Wilson Principles and Liberal Imperialism', Atatürk Research Center Journal, November 2007, Volume XXIII, Issue 67-68-69, pp. 145-174.

- Mine Erol, 'The Issue of American Mandate in Turkey 1919-1920', İleri Printing House, Giresun, 1972, pp. 6-7.

- Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Nutuk/Speech, Vol. I, Ankara, Turkish Historical Society Publications, 1981.

- Vahdet Keleşyılmaz-Mehmet Şahingöz, Wilson Principles in the Turkish Press during the National Struggle Period, Atatürk Research Center Journal 12, issue 35 (July 1996), 357-78.

- Erdal Ertaş - Kenan Kırkpınar, Footsteps of American Imperialism: Wilson Principles and Ottoman Public Opinion, Journal of Contemporary Turkey Studies, XXII/45 (2022 Autumn), pp. 519-565.