misno2

TWO AND A HALF HOURS UNDER KEMAL' S STEEL GAZE

Isaac F. Marcosson (of the Saturday Evening Post )

It was Rauf Bey who arranged my meeting with Kemal Pasha. The ordinary people of Ankara all referred to Mustafa Kemal as "Pasha", whereas the educated Turks always used the term "Gazi". This latter title, given by vote in the Assembly, means "conqueror" in Turkish. Since the historic day in 1453 when Conqueror Mehmet burst open the gates of Istanbul to open an Islamic era on the shores of the Bosphorus, this revered title has been given to only three men, Topal Osman Pasha, the hero of Plevny, Muhtar Pasha for his victory over the Greeks, and finally Mustafa Kemal Pasha.

As we approached the Gazi's residence, we began to come across soldiers. Then on a verdant hill we spotted a lovely white stone building with a red frontage surrounded by almond trees and a tidy garden. On the right was a smaller stone house. Reşat Bey explained that this had been given to Gazi as a present by the nation. When we came to the gate, we were stopped by a guard. Reşat Bey explained that I had an appointment with Gazi. He took my card and brought it inside.

A few minutes later, the guard returned and led us into a reception room. Here I saw the Gazi\rquote s father-in-law Muammer Uşaki, who knew English. He told me that the Pasha was now in a cabinet meeting and would see me shortly.

As I was discussing Turkey's economic future with Muammer Bey, Mustafa Kemal Pasha's aide, a well-dressed, handsome young liutenant in a khaki uniform, came in and told me that Gazi was ready to see me. We passed together through a small courtyard and I found myself in the main reception room. It was finely decorated in European style, with a piano in the corner and bookshelves filled with books on the wall opposite it. Presents of swords were also hung on the walls.

I had seen so many pictures of Mustafa Kemal that I was accustomed to his features. He was the kind of leader to take charge of people and communities. For a start, he was mearly six feet tall and had an impressive physique, with a fine chest and shoulders and a military bearing. And then my eyes met his - the most remarkable eyes I have ever seen - and I have met, for example, with the late J.P. Morgan, Kitchener and Foch - with their strange force. The Gazi's eyes were steel blue, hard as stone, forgiving as much as uncompromising, that took one under his influence.

Few people have seen Kemal smile. During the whole two-and-one-half hours I spent with him, the lines of his face softened only once. He was like a man with an iron mask, only the mask was his natural face.

I had expected to see him in uniform, but he was smartly dressed in grey stripped trousers, patent leather shoes and a black morning coat. He wore a wide collar with a blue and yellow tie. Rauf Bey introduced me to Kemal Pasha in the cabinet room, and after the customary salutations in French, he said,"Perhaps it would be better if we the cabinet alone and moved into the next room to talk," and he indicated the adjacent room. We sat down at a small table with Rauf Bey on my right and Gazi on my left. A manservant no less stylish than his master brought us the usual strong Turkish coffee and cigarettes. The interview began. Although Gazi knew both French and German, he preferred to speak in Turkish and use an interpreter. The interview began in French, with me expressing my pleasure at meeting him, but then Rauf Bey intervened and said that it might be better for the great man to speak in his own language. This was agreed upon, and from that point on, the Prime Minister acted as interpreter. Without beating about the bush, he asked me frankly, just like an officer giving orders,"What do you want me to say?"

"First," I answered,"can you give me a message for the American people?"

This was a tactical question: I knew that he was friendly towards the Americans, and that such a question would make the conversation less constrained.

Without the slightest hesitation - and I may say that he did not hesitate to answer a single question throughout the interview - he said, "With pleasure. The ideals of the United States are also our ideals. The nationalist proclamation adopted by our grand national assembly is very similar to your Declaration of Independence. We only wish that the Turkish nation is free from occupation and is able to decide its own future. Independence...

"Both Turkey and America have democratic regimes. Indeed, the present Turkish government is the most democratic government in the world. It is based on the unlimited sovereignty of the people, and the people's representative, the Grand National Assembly, is its judicial, legislative, and executive organ. As fellow democracies, Turkey and America must forge closer links with one another."

He leaned forward towards me, and added in his sharp, broken voice,"The first and most important consideration of the new Turkey is not political but economic. We want to take our place in world production and consumption."

My next question was,"What remedy do you propose for the world's present ills?"

He answered immediately,"In place of stupid suspicion and lack of confidence, intelligent cooperation."

source: Çankaya, compiled by Necdet Evliyagil