Suchergebnisse

On the night of 7 July 1937, an unexpected exchange of fire on the Marco Polo Bridge about 12 km from Peking, China, between a detachment of the Japanese garrison of Fengtang deployed in military exercises & a patrol unit of the Chinese army stationed in the region, broke the peace established by the 1932 Peace Accord that ended the Japanese occupation of Manchuria. While some commentators suggest that this incident marked the beginning of WWII, it did indeed indicate the start of a true war between China & Japan. After sketching the bellicose background of China-Japan relations in the early 20th century, diplomatic actions of the Joint Commission created by the incomplete Peace Accord are explored. In particular, the nonconforming (to the Anglo-US norm) behavior of the Italian representatives is examined. Details are also provided of the War of Shanghai (Aug-late Dec 1937). J. Sadler

The article opens with the position that Jerusalem had not yet been able to fully take up its position as nexus of the three major world religions due to armed conflict. The article continues with a discussion on the pivotal role Jerusalem plays in Middle Eastern politics & with the state of Israel itself. The article gives a brief historical account of the laws that govern political ownership of Jerusalem & the international diplomatic interventions that have attempted to create peace in the Middle East through political play with Jerusalem. The author gives an account of the recent events at Camp David & the more open negotiations that occurred there. E. Miller

This article gives an overview of the Johnston negotiations that took place between 1953 & 1955 to determine rights to water from the Jordan River basin. Discussion focuses on how these negotiations are representative of some of the best examples of the diplomatic process regarding any Middle Eastern conflict. The article discusses the main purposes of the negotiations & other primary objectives, as well as counterarguments by Israel & Arab nations. The negotiations are analyzed in conclusion. 1 Table. E. Miller

In this comment on the historical sketch by Carlo Marchiori Testis, (2002), Italian ambassador Bolasco applauds Testis's exceptional lucidity (at age 94) in recreating the incident from first-hand experience in his role as Italian Vice-Council to Shanghai, 1936-1937. Since this incident & its political-diplomatic ramifications were never officially recorded in the Italian Diplomatic Documents of the period, Testis's work has filled a significant gap in the historical record. J. Sadler

Explores the highly contested Israeli-Syrian border, noting that abstract & reciprocal demonizations of the nationalist dreams of both countries to return to their "homeland" have started to fade due to the "forced" interactions between the two populations, especially during the last seven years. The history of contested region dating from the creation of borders between Palestine & Syria by the French & British to newer borders resulting from the 1948 Israeli war of Independence, & in the aftermath of the Six Day War, & the Yom Kippur War is delineated. 1 Figure. J. Sadler

After summarizing various international relations crises in the 20th century, the article discusses how they helped change the worldview on economic conditions & international relations. The idea of globalization as a new perspective in the field of international relations is analyzed & conclusions drawn on its financial & political meanings. The article then comments on the importance of the growth in numbers of democratic countries & the prevention of armed conflict between nations. E. Miller

In this diplomatic letter, the Italian ambassador to Israel indicates reasons for admiring the Israelis: a people unique in maintaining religious, national, & ethnic identity despite persecution & discrimination; the return to their homeland; & their shrewd tenacity in developing & safeguarding the nation. After discussing theories about how to reconcile the Israeli state with Palestinians claiming homeland, the failures of the Middle Eastern peace accords are reviewed. It is suggested that Israelis lay the Holocaust to rest & that the state of Israel is a significant aspect of the eternal Jewish medallion. The text of the Middle East Conflict. Resolution 1245 (2001), adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, is appended. 1 Appendix. J. Sadler

Based on the original unpublished documents of the Italian ambassador in Ankara, the article refers to the difficult situation in which Turkey found itself as a consequence of the 1956 Suez Canal crisis. Since its entry into NATO in 1952, the Turkish government had been active in completing the Western defensive system in the Middle East. After the disappointing Middle East Command & the Medo, which had to see Egypt as a main pillar, the US Secretary of State saw in the Northern Tier line as the real base for building the Baghdad Pact. GB, of course, had to be the "glue" of the structure. Pakistan would be a new element; an Arab country; Iraq, was most welcome; & Iran joined too. Turkey tried from the beginning to get Washington into the Pact. It had to measure itself against the irresistible rise of Nasserism & the strong dissuasive action it exerted on Hussein of Jordan & Nuri Said of Iraq. When Nasser's ascendancy gained ground in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, & Iraq, Turkey tried in vain to connect the Baghdad Pact to NATO; Cairo & Damascus, the two main centers of Arab nationalism, succeeding in isolating Iraq, would strengthen those links with the USSR that would suddenly threaten Turkey both from communism in the North & Arabism from South. The bilateral treaty of 11 March 1959 with Washington, together with strong economic aid, would in the end guarantee Turkey would open its territory to the intermediate range ballistic missile base. Adapted from the source document.