What if the Çanak Crisis of 1922 became a war, and would it collapse the naval treaty system?
Short answerBritain would probably seek to suspend implementation for the duration of the war, rather than abandon the treaty outright.
NotesThe 1922 war scare followed Turkey's defeat of the Greek armies and its attempt to restore control over occupied territory. General Harington's preference for negotiation helped prevent the threatened confrontation, amid opposition to another war. In the counterfactual, Britain's likely response would be to seek suspension of the Washington Naval Treaty's implementation until hostilities ended. Allied troops at the Straits and naval intervention would make a Turkish advance difficult. A bloody but relatively short conflict is expected because Turkey had limited reserves after the First World War and subsequent fighting.