The Bavarian loans and the chancellor Bismarck's intervention in th Greek-Turkish dispute over Greece's borders (1878-81)

Part of : Balkan studies : biannual publication of the Institute for Balkan Studies ; Vol.34, No.1, 1993, pages 73-83

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73-83
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The unfortunate wording of Article 24 of the Treaty of Berlin gave rise to a number of problems and it was only after three years of talks and meetings that the Greek-Turkish borders were eventually fixed. During the negotiationsfor the final settling of the borders of Epirus and Thessaly, ChancellorBismaick decided indirectly to force the Greek government to back downover what had been agreed at the Berlin Congress and to justify his ownpro-Turkish stance by making Greece’s repayment of the Bavarian loans aprecondition of the fixing of the borders.Harilaos Trikoupis believed the problem could be overcome by simplyignoring the issue. Alexandras Ragavis, however, thought it. essential thatGreece take immediate and unprompted steps to repay the debt, for therewas great political advantage to be gained from the goodwill of the GreatPowers, particularly Germany.The Greek government therefore reached a compromise with Bavariaand agreed to pay the amount requested six months betöre the borders wereeventually fixed.
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Βαυαρικό δάνειο, Αμφισβήτηση ελληνοτουρκικών συνόρων (1878-81)