In the Conference of London (12 February – 10 April 1920),[1][2] following World War I, leaders of Britain, France, and Italy met to discuss the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire and the negotiation of agreements that would become the Treaty of Sèvres.
A balance was sought to allow the Sultan to control the security of the Caliphate, but not to enable him to change the course of the peace settlements.
The members were constantly informed about the Khilafat Movement which tried to protect the position of caliphate.
However, the new Ottoman parliament deputies elected after the armistice met on 28 January 1920 and published their decisions of independence (Misak-ı Milli (National Oath)) on 12 February 1920.
For Britain's part, it would seek to preserve the Caliphate, likely to utilize it as a socio-political instrument in their rule over many of the world's Muslim lands.