CORFU AFFAIR (1923)

Abstract

After World War I, a Conference of Ambassadors was instituted, which was primarily conceived as a diplomatic institution for the negotiation and peaceful settlement of disputes of a political nature arising from the Versailles Peace Treaty. Among other things, it was given competence to settle the Greco-Albanian boundaries. On August 29, 1923 the Italian Government addressed an energetic note to the Greek Government. Italy demanded reparations for internationally wrongful acts, an official apology, a funeral service in the Roman Catholic cathedral in Athens, inquiry by Greek authorities in the presence of an Italian military attaché to be completed within five days, capital punishment for all the culprits, an indemnity of 50 million Italian lire payable within five days, honours to the Italian flag and military honours to be paid to the dead. The Greek reply of August 30, 1923, rejected three of the demands and the allegation that Greece was guilty of an offence against Italy. The exchange of notes between Rome and Athens was stopped by an Italian note of August 31, which embodied Mussolini's proclamation of the occupation of Corfu. Italy considered the occupation of Corfu as a pacific and temporary occupation, simultaneous with sanctions imposed because of the rejection of the Italian demands.