The Allies declare conditions for ceasefire

With the victory won at the Battle of Sakarya, the National Struggle had entered a new phase, but the enemy had not yet been full eradicated. Seeing the winds change, the British and the French organized a peace conference in Paris on March 22, 1922 to earn some time for the Greek army they supported and extended an armistice proposal to the Governments of İstanbul, Ankara, and Greece. Although the Ankara Government did not overlook this new development, it nonetheless regarded it with caution. On March 26th, the Allies extended a second diplomatic note including the conditions of ceasefire.

As predicted, the foreseen conditions were nothing more than small amendments made to Treaty of Sèvres. Accordingly, the border of Thrace would be redrawn with the cessation of Kırklareli, Babaeski, and Edirne to Greeks and Tekirdağ to the Turks, İstanbul would be evacuated and declared a separate territory, and the Straits would be a free zone. Furthermore, the present number of soldiers in the Turkish army, which was fifty thousand according to Sèvres, would be increased to eight-five thousand.

The Grand National Assembly Government of Turkey replied with a brief and clear answer: “Peace negotiations will not commence and proposals will not be taken into consideration until the occupiers entirely retreat from Anatolia!”
The Allies dismissed the conference upon the answer received from Ankara. The outcome was not at all a surprise for the Turks.