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'''The Montreux Convention''' was signed in 1936 in [[Montreux]], [[Switzerland]].  It is a treaty that gives authority of the [[Turkish Straits]] (the [[Dardanelles]], the [[Sea of Marmara]], and the [[Bosporus]]) to the [[Turkey]]. The treaty also stated that foreign ships cannot stay in a Turkish waters for more then 21 days during peacetime. The treaty was ratified by [[Great Britain]], [[Greece]], [[Turkey]], the [[USSR]], [[Bulgaria]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Yugoslavia]], and [[Japan]].  

The '''Montreux Convention''' was signed in 1936 in [[Montreux]], [[Switzerland]].  It is a treaty that gives authority of the [[Turkish Straits]] (the [[Dardanelles]], the [[Sea of Marmara]], and the [[Bosporus]]) to the [[Turkey]]. The treaty also stated that foreign ships cannot stay in Turkish waters for more then 21 days during peacetime. The treaty was ratified by [[Great Britain]], [[Greece]], [[Turkey]], the [[USSR]], [[Bulgaria]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Yugoslavia]], and [[Japan]].  

==History==

==History==

When the treaty was signed in 1936, tensions where beginning to grow between Germany and Great Britain, as well as France. [[England]] and France saw the opportunity to see where Turkey's position was. They used the convention as their first step to encourage Turkey either to involve its war fleet in war against Germany or to maintain strict neutrality in the event of conflict between the Western Allies and Germany. <ref>http://www.robertcutler.org/ch91dc.htm</ref> Turkey's neutrality stood despite Germany's pressure. The USSR interest in the treaty where to limit foreign ships through the straits, while letting its own warships pass. In 1930, Turkey was asked by [[Stalin]]to share its soverignty of the straits with the USSR, Turkey declined. <ref>http://www.robertcutler.org/ch91dc.htm</ref>  

When the treaty was signed in 1936, tensions were beginning to grow between Germany and Great Britain, as well as France. England and France saw the opportunity to see where Turkey's position was. They used the convention as their first step to encourage Turkey either to involve its war fleet in war against Germany or to maintain strict neutrality in the event of conflict between the Western Allies and Germany. <ref>http://www.robertcutler.org/ch91dc.htm</ref> Turkey's neutrality stood despite Germany's pressure. The USSR interest in the treaty was to limit foreign ships through the straits, while letting its own warships pass. In 1930, Turkey was asked by [[Stalin]]to share its sovereignty of the straits with the USSR, Turkey declined. <ref>http://www.robertcutler.org/ch91dc.htm</ref>  

==United States Dispute==

==United States Dispute==

The treaties first major dispute came in 2005. The United States proposed expanding [[NATO]]'s mission [[Operation Active Endeavour]] to include the area of the Turkish Straits. Turkey argued that this would break the 70 year convention by having foreign ships in Turkish water for more then 29 days. The United States agreed to Turkeys argument and dropped the proposition. One Turkish official stated that, "The Americans have told us that they are now convinced by our arguments and concerns’ over the 1936 Montreux Convention, which gives Ankara control of passage through the Turkish straits. Washington's move to drop its earlier position removes this burden and has already led to an improvement in our relationship with the United States.”<ref>http://acturca.wordpress.com/2006/05/09/us-quits-black-sea-plan-eases-turkey%e2%80%99s-concerns/</ref>

The treaties first major dispute came in 2005. The United States proposed expanding [[NATO]]'s mission [[Operation Active Endeavour]] to include the area of the Turkish Straits. Turkey argued that this would break the 70 year convention by having foreign ships in Turkish water for more then 29 days. The United States agreed to Turkeys argument and dropped the proposition. One Turkish official stated that, "The Americans have told us that they are now convinced by our arguments and concerns’ over the 1936 Montreux Convention, which gives Ankara control of passage through the Turkish straits. Washington's move to drop its earlier position removes this burden and has already led to an improvement in our relationship with the United States.”<ref>http://acturca.wordpress.com/2006/05/09/us-quits-black-sea-plan-eases-turkey%e2%80%99s-concerns/</ref>