Letter written by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to his foster sister emerges: 'My dear sister, madam'

The article titled "The Correspondence of Mustafa Kemal Pasha with His Foster Sister Saime Hanım," written by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kenan Özkan and Prof. Dr. Sevilay Özer, sheds light on a brief chapter of Atatürk's life. Published in the latest issue of the "Belleten" journal—which began publication in 1937 and was named by Atatürk himself—the article is based primarily on documents from the Presidential State Archives and the Turkish Historical Society.

Numerous studies have been conducted by domestic and foreign researchers regarding Atatürk's life. These studies have relied on documents and the accounts of Mustafa Kemal Pasha's mother, Zübeyde Hanım, his sister, Makbule Hanım, and close witnesses.

'MY DEAR SISTER, MADAM'

Unlike previous studies, this article documents that while Mustafa Kemal Pasha was in Silvan, Diyarbakır, as the Commander of the 16th Corps attached to the 2nd Army, he received a letter dated July 15, 1916, sent from Çengelköy, Istanbul, signed "Your foster sister Saime." He responded to this letter on October 26, 1916, with a letter beginning with the salutation "My dear sister, madam."

Information regarding Atatürk's foster mother appears in an interview with Makbule Hanım conducted by Enver Behnan Şapolyo, a journalist of the Republican era who participated in the National Struggle, for his book "Atatürk's Life," published in 1955. In the article, this information regarding Atatürk's infancy, which Makbule Hanım heard from her mother, is recounted to Şapolyo with the following expressions:

"...When my brother Mustafa was born, my father, Ali Rıza Bey, brought a sword and placed it at the head of his swaddling clothes, and congratulated my mother. Since my mother had little milk, my father hired a wet nurse named Ümmügül."

The article emphasizes that the existence of Atatürk's foster mother gained clarity with the emergence of his foster sister.

FIRST CORRESPONDENCE IN 1916

Colonel Mustafa Kemal, who was appointed Commander of the 16th Corps in August 1915, departed from Edirne on March 11, 1916, arrived in Aleppo on March 19, reached Diyarbakır on March 27 where the Corps was to assemble, and established his headquarters in Silvan on April 16.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who was promoted to the rank of "Mirliva/Brigadier General" as of April 1, 1916, received a two-page letter dated July 15, 1916, while in Silvan. The letter began with the salutation "My esteemed brother" and was signed, "Your foster sister Saime, daughter of Medical Colonel Osman Bey and granddaughter of Abdullah Bey of Tirhala, residing at house number 12 at Set Başı in Çengelköy Kuleli."

According to the expressions in the letter, it is noted that the purpose of Saime Hanım, who had 3 children, in writing the letter was to convey a request to Mustafa Kemal Pasha for the protection of her husband, who had joined the army as a volunteer.

In her letter, after mentioning the health status of her mother and father, Saime Hanım expresses the sadness they both felt because they had not been able to see Mustafa Kemal Pasha for a long time.

LETTER FROM MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK TO HIS FOSTER SISTER

Mustafa Kemal Pasha replied to this letter from Silvan on October 26, 1916, with a letter beginning with the salutation "My dear sister, madam."

According to Mustafa Kemal Pasha's expression in the letter, it is understood that the two foster siblings met in Thessaloniki between January 13 and February 11, 1899, and did not communicate again until 1916.

It is also observed that Mustafa Kemal Pasha crossed out some expressions in the letter, in which he informed Saime Hanım that her husband had joined his headquarters along with the telegraph detachment where he was serving as an official.

Upon Saime Hanım's request for a photograph from Mustafa Kemal Pasha, he replied in his letter as follows:

"It would have been an honor for me to present a photograph of myself as you requested. However, as I do not have one with me, it is not possible to have one taken here for the time being. However, I believe there are some photographs of me with my mother and sister residing at number 76 in Akaretler, Beşiktaş. I kiss your eyes along with your children."

100 LIRA FINANCIAL AID FROM MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK TO HIS FOSTER SISTER

According to the expressions in Saime Hanım's letter, it is understood that she was an educated woman and that she had her children educated in the prominent schools of the period.

Although there is no information or document indicating that Saime Hanım and Mustafa Kemal Pasha came together after the correspondence in 1916, it is among the predictions of the article that they established contact again.

According to information in the book "My Family" by Dr. Ali Güler, which is cited in the article, it is seen that Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who provided financial aid to his family members and close circle, gave 100 liras in financial aid to his foster sister Saime Hanım in 1923.

In the article, where it is seen that the contact between the foster siblings was limited to this in light of the available documents, there is no information or record indicating that they met or corresponded in the period from 1923 until Atatürk's passing.