THE SPEECH
presented by the
INTERNET ATATÜRK LIBRARY
is the version of a book published in English
by the Ministry of Education of Türkiye in 1967.
THE SPEECH
was delivered by
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
The Founder and the 1st President of
The Republic of Türkiye
at the National Convention of the "People's Party of the Republic" held in
Ankara between 15- 20 October, 1927.
THE SPEECH is published on the Internet by the Volunteers of the "IMECE IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE" with the permission of the Atatürk Research Center in Ankara, Türkiye.
IMECE (pronounced eeh-mai-jai ), in Turkish, means working together of the people of a whole village for the good of the community!
PREFACE
(by the Ministry of Education of Türkiye, 1963)
With the publication of this translation of a speech delivered by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1927, the Ministry of Education of the Turkish Republic hopes to be of service to foreign students of Turkish history.
A translation of the same speech published by K. F. Koehler, G.m.b.H., Leipzig, Germany, in 1929 has been extensively utilized in this publication. This first translation, which has been out of print for a long time, has been checked against the original speech, translation errors have been corrected, certain missing paragraphs translated and added, spelling of names of persons and geographical places changed to their current Turkish spelling, and a glossary of terms and names of institutions peculiar to Turkiye mentioned in the speech has been added to the book.
The introduction to the first edition has been kept, since it prepares the reader who is not fairly familiar with the history of Turkiye; also, it reveals the point of view of a foreign editor in 1929. The introduction ends with the following words:
"As yet it is impossible to guess how far Mustafa Kemal Pasha's work will finally be crowned with success. He is still in the prime of manhood. But it is certain even now that Turkiye as she has been created by Mustafa Kemal Pasha will forever stand as a monument of ardent patriotic love, of crowning ability and of a titanic will."
The Ministry of Education of Ataturk's Turkiye, which publishes this work twenty-five years after his death, leaves the evaluation of the above opinion expressed thirty-four years ago to those who will study present and future developments in Turkiye.
PREFACE FOR THE INTERNET EDITION
(By the Volunteers of Imece In the Global Village-1997)
In comparing this English translation of Atatürk's Speech with the original text, we have noted a great deal of discrepancies in the translation. Whereas at some points these discrepencaies are harmless, some of them are literally incorrect . Sometimes, the translation fails to capture the strength of spirit in Atatürk's deliverance of his message, and the beauty of the meaning that engulfs the hearts of so many Turks when reading this historical document . Therefore, The Speech is also regarded as a literary masterpiece by many.
At times, long statements may have made it difficult for the original translators to capture the meaning of the text both in concrete translation and in apprehending or appreciating the power of the compositon that trancends mere translation of those words. Therefore, it now appears that we have a task to deal with: It is that a better translation of this work must be accomplished. This, we intend to undertake as a separate project in itself.
For this internet edition, however, in proofreading the internet files, we have incorporated occasional corrections to the translation whenever an intolerable inconsistency with the Turkish version, SOYLEV, was noted. Our plan is to present, firstly, the original English translation with such touch-ups. Then, in time, as we undertake the revision of the translation as a another project, the original translation will be substituted with the improved translation in phases.
We must also state that the original translation in many other parts appears to be quite satisfactory and even excellent at certain points. Certainly, the English speaking reader would not be cognizant of the troublesome translations .
ABRIDGED VERSION
(Translated and abridged
by Önder Renkliyildirim
©1985 by Metro)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Full Version)
Introduction to the Internet edition
The general situation
and outlook when
I landed at Samsun
Considered means for salvation
National organizations, their
political objectives
Organizations working against the
national existence in Anatolia
and in Istanbul
Symphathesizers of the
American mandate
Condition of the military units
Broad powers of my inspection
duty
Closer examination of
the state of affairs
Dividing the implementation into
stages and reaching the
aim by degrees
The Greek Army's occupation
of environs of Manisa and Aydin
Establishment of national
organizations and warning
the nation
National demonstration meetings
Echoes of national
demonstration meetings
Decision to convene
a national congress in Sivas
Arrival in Sivas of an acquaintance
witholding his name
The unease of Rauf and Refet Bey
A letter I have sent to
certain persons in Istanbul
Circular letter of Ali Kemal Bey
Taking the initiative to achieve
the national objective
Preparetions for the
congress in Erzurum
Decision to resign from office
and continue the mission by trusting
the welcome of the nation
Cemal Pasha of Mersin
goes to Istanbul
Order not to resign
from the command
Refet Bey's resignation from the
command of the Third Corps
Dismissal of Hikmet Bey by
he government in Istanbul
Assistance by the
people of Erzurum
Communique of the
Congress of Erzurum and
its resolutions
Hesitations at the Congress
of Erzurum
The coded telegram I sent to
Ferit Pasha, who came back
from Europe empty handed
Preparations for
the Congress of Sivas
On the way to Sivas
Inauguration of the
Congress of Sivas
Points of consideration
by the Congress of Sivas
...... TO BE CONTINUED .........
