Atatürk’s statesmanship

On May 15, 1919, the Greeks, with the support of imperialists, landed in İzmir and, in the following period, committed various massacres and all kinds of harassment and abuse against the innocent Turkish people from İzmir to Afyon, Bursa, and Kütahya.

Following this, Atatürk landed in Samsun and launched a War of Independence.

Without going into details,

The War of Independence was won, and the Greek Commander-in-Chief General Trikoupis was captured and taken prisoner near Uşak. Uşak was burning. Not only Uşak, but the Greeks were burning all the cities as they retreated and continued to massacre the people they could catch. The soldiers of the two nations left in the squares were fighting each other sword to sword, throat to throat.

From Dumlupınar, the Afyon plain, Akçaşar, to Allıhan, everywhere was a bloodbath.

It was in such an apocalyptic environment that Trikoupis was brought before Mustafa Kemal, who had arrived in Uşak from Dumlupınar on the evening of September 3, 1922. Trikoupis was in fear. Because they had always portrayed Mustafa Kemal negatively in public opinion. 

His hands were shaking.

He was sure he would be interrogated, perhaps tortured, and who knows, perhaps ruthlessly killed by the Turks he had heard called “barbarians” since his childhood. According to international law, soldiers who surrender should be treated differently, but who would listen to those laws in this chaos.

 Greek Commander-in-Chief General Trikoupis entered the tent from among the Turkish soldiers, accompanied by General Digenis. He came face to face with Mustafa Kemal Pasha. He was seeing him for the first time. İsmet Pasha and Fevzi Pasha were also with Mustafa Kemal.

İsmet Pasha did not speak to him at all. Fevzi Pasha was as silent and calm as a Buddha statue. But he was trying not to show the anger in his eyes.

But Mustafa Kemal was completely different.

He was calm. He was the most dominant character in the room. He received Trikoupis and Digenis in a manner befitting a statesman. He extended his hand to Trikoupis with respect. It was a long handshake rather than a casual one.

- “Sit down, General, you must be tired,” he said, gesturing to a seat. 

Trikoupis was astonished. He was looking at Mustafa Kemal with admiration. To calm him down, Mustafa Kemal said;

-“Do not be upset. You did your duty. Defeat is also part of military life. Napoleon was also taken prisoner. You are our guest now. Everything will be resolved soon. Please, rest.” He offered his cigarette case and served coffee.

Trikoupis had not expected such treatment at all.

Furthermore, Mustafa Kemal was 41 years old. Trikoupis was about to turn 54. Faced with this situation, Trikoupis could not help but say these words;

 -“I did not know you were this young, General.”

First of all, let me say,

No one’s personality, character, statesmanship, or even success can be compared to Atatürk, but 100 years have passed, has “statesmanship” really fallen this low?

Recently, US President Donald Trump summoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and spoke humiliating words in front of the entire world public.

He told a head of state visiting his own country, “Don’t tell us what to feel. You are not in a position to dictate to us what to feel.” Zelenskyy asked for permission, saying “Can I respond?” but Trump did not allow it. He scolded him, saying, “No. You have talked too much.”

When the world is left to imperialists and those like Zelenskyy, who are voluntary servants of imperialists, this is the result.

The Greek commander-in-chief Trikoupis later always respected Atatürk and his cause. 

British General William Birdwood, whom he fought face-to-face at Gallipoli, came to Atatürk’s funeral on November 10 and, despite his crippled leg, stood up and stood in silence as he passed in front of the catafalque. He gave a military salute.

An Italian radio station, when Atatürk died, announced over the microphone: “Alexander the Great, Caesar, Napoleon, stand up, your superior is coming.”

Well, what can we say.

Atatürk is gone, and nobility, charisma, and statesmanship have ended, my friend. As Yaşar Kemal said;

“Those beautiful people rode those beautiful horses and rode away…”