Turkish-French relations between 1938-1950

While the Turkish-French relations were being expected to return to normal after the resolution of the remaining issues from the Lausanne, the troubled period had been started again in 1936 when predicted France was to liberate Syria. In that period, Turkey, wanted to establish an alliance with the Western Countries and France wanted to see Ankara as an alliance because great concern over German and Italian threat had been started to become evident in Europe. France, at the end of prolonged negotiations, agreed to the annexation of Hatay to Turkey and the Triple Alliance Agreement was signed between the UK, France, and Turkey. At the beginning of World War II, France and Britain planned to bombard Baku to destroy the resources that support the German and Soviet forces. The unapplied plan was seized during the invasion of France, disseminated falsified plan by Germany, and caused a crisis between the Soviet Union and Turkey. After Italy entered the war, Britain and France had been demanded from Ankara to declare war. Turkey refused entering the war according to Protocol No.2 of the Mutual Assistance Pact and declared the non-combatant status. While Marshal Petain was trying to establish the Vichy Government in France, defeated by Germany, General de Gaulle, who was in favor of continuing the struggle, founded the "Free France" in England. The fight between these two administrations took place also in Turkey. Ankara, during WWII, maintained relations with the Vichy Administration as the official government. Issues that came up during this period between Turkey and France were Vichy Government claim on Cilicia, transport supplies to the French troops in Syria via Turkey, and harboring a French navy flotilla in Beirut to Turkey. Turkey, while maintaining relations with the Vichy Government, had also closely followed Free France. Turkey, weakening the relations with the Vichy government in parallel with the success of the Allies at the battlefield, had increased its relations with the Provisional Government of the French Republic founded by General de Gaulle and recognized this government officially at the same time with Allies. Both countries perceived Soviet expansionism and communism as a threat after the war. In France, increase number of votes of the Communist Party and some anti-Turkey practices were followed by Ankara with concern. While Syria was demanding Hatay back after gaining its independence, great powers, especially France, were interested in the region due to its strategic importance. Keywords: Hatay, Triple Alliance Agreement, World War II, Baku, Vichy Government, Free French, Provisional Government of the French Republic, French Communist Party