MIDDLE EAST HISTORY POLITICS CULTURE XIII MIDDLE EAST XIII | Page 259

international situation in that time, the policy of France, Great Britain and
Turkey over the Sanjak and the role of the League of Nations in this problem.
The Sanjak of Alexandretta was originally a part of Syria, but Turkey
showed interest in the area. It can be said that Turkey was able to use the
favorable international situation for its political interests. At the beginning of
the Second World War France and Great Britain decided to keep Turkey on
their side and Alexandretta was the price to pay. In 1939 France agreed to
give the Sanjak of Alexandretta to Turkey. It was an illegal act and Syria
never accepted this annexation. It is worth mentioning that in Syria, official
maps have the Sanjak included as national territory.
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