The Republic and full independence

In the 100th year of the founding of our Republic, the wars, civil wars, armed conflicts, and the encroachment of imperialism upon our region surrounding Turkey demonstrate how difficult it is to win and maintain independence. Moreover, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who knew very well that political, economic, and judicial independence are necessary for full independence, drew attention to this issue in his Nutuk (The Speech) as well.

He emphasized that the privileges granted by the Ottoman Empire to foreigners, ranging from finance to justice, prepared and accelerated the liquidation of the state. He drew important attention to this issue before the Lausanne negotiations. For this reason, the harshest and most difficult discussions in Lausanne took place when the abolition of the capitulations was on the table.

In this context, the following words of İsmet Pasha are important and relevant today:

“One of the goals of the War of Independence was to save the country from the century-old scourge of capitulations... Since my youth, I knew that our hands were tied solely because of the economic provisions of the capitulations. After getting involved in the matter, I understood that what they really attached importance to was the judicial part of the capitulations.”

Let us elaborate further on the subject.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who started the War of Independence by landing in Samsun on May 19, 1919, began the war not from the west, but from the east. This choice by the Gazi was a strategic one. Atatürk waged the war for Anatolia, within Anatolia, and together with Anatolia. He also sought his leading cadres among the people of Anatolia.

Because Mustafa Kemal Pasha had seen years ago that the real danger came from the West, from Europe. He identified that the external power that liquidated the Ottoman Empire, namely Western imperialism, was the real great enemy. Therefore, in his own words, he decided to fight as a “lone mujahid in the bosom of the nation” when necessary.

While he risked death for the salvation of the country and entrusted the future of his country to the people of Anatolia, he also determined that the military defense of the homeland was possible only and exclusively in Anatolia. Anatolia is the center of gravity of the War of Independence, militarily, politically, and ideologically.

It is a historical iron law; waging war, especially against an occupying, colonial, imperialist enemy, among the people, together with the people, for the people, and by winning the people over, is the key to victory. Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the first leader in the world to conduct a War of Independence under the management and supervision of a Parliament, is among the revolutionaries who knew this truth best. He waged the war not with the Istanbul of the armistice, but with Anatolia; not with the intellectuals and press of the armistice, but with the people and press of Anatolia. Atatürk knew this iron law of history very well: “He who integrates with his people grows.”

Mustafa Kemal announced to the country and the world with the Amasya Circular that the homeland would be defended with arms. In a process where the country was occupied by the enemy, he stated that the defense of the homeland was possible not with rallies, meetings, or demonstrations, but with arms. This stance of the Gazi is also based on another iron law: “What is established by the sword is destroyed by the sword.”

In short, the fact that Atatürk, who said “Freedom and independence are my character,” resigned from his official duties and left his titles to continue his struggle is the choice of a leader who wants to live independently, trusts his nation, and receives the support of his people, and it is full of very important lessons.