The proceedings of the Peace Conference began after the signing of the Mudros armistice (1918).

The Allies were trying to reach peace terms with Turkey and resolve the issue, trying to balance between two extremes. On the one hand they officially condemned secret diplomacy, due to their respect of the principle of self-determination of people and their commitments imposed by the already signed secret war treaties. On the other hand they tried to protect their own vested interests as they were shaped in these same treaties.

The Peace Conference faced the difficult task of gratifying all Allied interests, as they were internal conflicts. In such a climate it was even more difficult for nations to call for independence, and Greek claims in particular. From the beginning of 1920 the intransigence of the Kemalist leadership complicated further the resolution of the Asia Minor issue, as the principles of the National Pact were expressed, according to which the nationalists would fight for the territorial integrity of the Empire.

In successive conferences the terms and means of imposing the peace with Turkey were discussed, each time coming up with new difficulties and reservations. Eventually, in the summer of 1920, (28 July-10 August) the representatives of the Allies and the Allied Powers signed the Treaty of Sevres.