The Story of the Cars Used by Mustafa Kemal and the Members of the Representative Committee on their Arrival in Ankara

During the preparations of Atatürk and the members of the Representative Committee from Sivas to Ankara:

And finally, when it comes to going to Ankara, he addressed me:

"The days are near, how is the preparation?" Said.

The conversation between us continued as follows:

I –"What preparation, where is the money?"

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – (Thinking a little) "Ingenuity is finding him…"

Me—"You do not accept the remedies I have found."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "Getting money from banks, directors or something?"

Me – "I couldn't find any other way; if there is, tell me."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "It's not from the banks, we can't give our enemies a new propaganda tip. They don't say that they are robbing the banks. Let's think of another solution."

Me – "Well, can't I borrow from any bank on my behalf, not on behalf of the Delegation of the Delegation?"

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "I don't understand. In what way and from which bank?"

I –"The director of the Ottoman Bank, Monsieur Oskar Shmit, is a very old friend of mine. His father, Monsieur Shmit, was a current doctor in Edirne. Since his son was at our age, we used to meet in foreign clubs at that time; now he is the director of the Ottoman Bank here, we met several times. In fact, he had dinner with me at his house recently. He even invited me. He is a Turkish-friendly person:

“I was born and grew up and lived in Thrace. I believed in my heart that the Turks are a great nation and have the strength and power to do anything. I am sure that you will succeed in the struggle you have embarked on this time, he keeps saying, and if there is any service I can do, I am ready to perform it, I will even leave my civil service if necessary.” He was showing some kind of courage. I strongly hope that I will borrow a thousand liras from him on my own behalf; Isn't that fair too?"

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "Well, what does it mean on my behalf, what will you sign?"

Me – "By the signature of Mazhar Müfit, the ex-governor of Bitlis."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "It may be like this, but the names of the Kuvayi Milliye and the Representative Committee should not be written in the deed in any way whatsoever."

I – "Sure."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "These images come to my mind; let alone that they will not say that Mazhar Müfit took money from the bank again, they will say that he received the delegation from the Representative Office, this would be too much of a delusion."

So we settled the money issue. So we settled it between us. Let's see if the director will give us money with such a signature. Is it in line with bank procedures? Whatever it was, we were going to give it a try.

Then, bringing the word to the cars:

-"There are three cars, but how are they? If we have them examined. Will they be able to take us to Ankara? The goods, the retinue's chiefs and the pen committee will naturally go by cars. Who is there now? Rauf Bey, our guest Alfred Rüstem Bey, you, Şeyh Fevzi Efendi , Hakkı Behiç, his aide Muzaffer and Cevat Abbas, Bedri, his secretary general Hüsrev Bey (Berlin ambassador), Doctor Refik (Saydam) etc. Let's appoint Hüsrev Bey to organize the movement: the distribution of cars, the departure and stopping times on the roads and how much per day. Let him examine and calculate the distance we can cover, where we can stay at night. Determine the travel expenses by meeting with Hüsrev. You need gasoline, this is needed, this is necessary; Hüsrev Bey thinks about these details. He is a military commander, he has been through such actions a lot."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha called Hüsrev Bey about this road issue and had a long discussion. The most difficult issue was gasoline. Where would we get it? Even if we have money… What about tyres?. The negotiation went on and on; Finally they have it all, let's assume, what about money?. Mustafa Kemal Pasha was very bored, he stood up and said:

"He said, "Hey, all these important issues, riots, we dealt with these, we made decisions, I'm sure I didn't get this bored. We will go to Ankara; we will go to Ankara; we will settle for cars that are outdated, with their bellows piecemeal, that are not right to ride in the snow this winter, but gasoline, We can't find tires or money. But of course, we will find a solution for these as well."

Hüsrev Bey – "I know cars, tires are solid, not just one; then it has carbide lanterns."

I-"The American school has a lot of gasoline and tires; recently, when the headmistress, Mis janapları, was showing the school, I saw the warehouse. There were more than ten pairs of tires and maybe twenty-thirty cans of gasoline."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "What's that to us?"

Me –"What is it to us? We pay for it, we buy it; if we don't pay it, we get a loan and then we send the money from Ankara."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha – "First of all, find money, then go to your friend Mis, and talk to him to sell tires and petrol as much as necessary. We'll send it from Ankara, huh? And the military can give us some petrol."

At this time, there was a knock on the door. Hakkı Behiç came in with a few papers in his hand. These papers were an article for İradei Milliye newspaper with some circulars. These have been read. Addressing Mustafa Kemal Pasha Hakkı Behiç Bey:

-“Behiç Bey, it is now time to move to Ankara. We are meeting for the road, for the money. How will we go? Mazhar Müfit Bey keeps saying there is no money. Mr. Hakkı Behiç: “I can't understand the money business, sir. We have already decided on the issue of going to Ankara, whatever the editorial is. Of course we will go,” he said. And I said: “Of course it will go, but this is the money to make it go.”

I have given my opinion on this matter. Pasha also gave his opinion. Hakkı Behiç Bey gave the right to both of us. But the final decision seemed to be gathered in getting money on my behalf.

I went to the bank the next day. I learned that the Director, Monsieur Oskar, is sick and has not been to the bank for two days. I went to the American school, saying that we still have four or five days to move, until then he will recover. As usual, the headmistress received me with great respect. We sat in his room, he ordered tea. After talking about this and that, I said that our departure was approaching, but that we were having trouble finding gas and tyres, and that we would be grateful if they could help us with this at a cost. Manager: “Easy. What does money mean? We are not gas and tire dealers. Especially drink your tea. You like it, smoke that cigar too." he put a nice cigar box in front of me. When I looked at the cigarettes and the Headmistress in amazement: “Sir, we neither smoke nor smoke. These come to us from America. The reason is to help our citizens who will pass through here if they are deprived of them. Today, there is no one who comes and goes and makes such an application. The fate is yours, let me present it to you with its box, we have a gift for the road.” Said. Indeed, I gladly accepted these exquisite cigars and thanked them.

The Headmistress, who was just sixty years old, began a long speech. She spoke Turkish well since she had been in Turkey for years. He said that the Kuvayi Milliye was not a looter or looter, but was working to save the homeland, with the mention that we acted very gentlemanly about his school in Sivas and that we kept it like this, and he requested that his thanks be conveyed to Mustafa Kemal Pasha.

-“Two pairs of inner tires and two pairs of outer tires and six cans of gasoline are at your disposal, take them!” said. I insisted on the money though. I said, “Please send the invoice so I can present the money to the man who will come to collect it”. Because I didn't have the money to pay for it, even in our safe at the residence. We would send the money we hoped to receive on the day the director of the Ottoman Bank came to the bank, and of course we would not send people to the school to buy tires and gasoline until then. Again, the woman insisted that it would be an insult to talk about money and that if we tried to send money she would not give me tires or gas. And promptly she ordered her men to take them to us in the evening. I left with thanks. As a matter of fact, tires and gasoline came with a car in the evening. We delivered what was needed. Mustafa Kemal Pasha: “Now they don't get paid, but do they make a defection to America saying that the Turks took it by force? In order to avoid this, you said to the Headmistress: “The tires and gasoline have also arrived, thank you. But as I have said verbally, write a letter stating how many cents they cost and to present the money immediately, even the addition of the money for the porter and the car, and a quick response since our move is close. Save this as a document. Indeed, we do not want free money, they do not, yes, but just in case, we should have a document that shows that they did not receive money despite our insistence. But as I have said verbally, write a letter stating how many cents they cost and to present the money immediately, even the addition of the money for the porter and the car, and a quick response since our move is close. Save this as a document. Indeed, we do not want free money, they do not, yes, but just in case, we should have a document that shows that they did not receive money despite our insistence. But as I have said verbally, write a letter stating how many cents they cost and to present the money immediately, even the addition of the money for the porter and the car, and a quick response since our move is close. Save this as a document. Indeed, we do not want free money, they do not, yes, but just in case, we should have a document that shows that they did not receive money despite our insistence.

I followed this warning of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who thought very carefully. Indeed, he replied to the Director; He said that it would not be possible for them to sell gasoline and tires with money, that such gifts should not be insisted upon, and that he was ready to offer even more by cutting them out of their own needs, and that he wished them a good journey, and that he appreciated Mustafa Kemal Pasha's respect and our patriotic service, and wished us success. .

But we didn't ask for more than we got. Indeed, this service and help of the Director made us special. Unfortunately, I did not write the name of the Headmistress in my notebook and I cannot remember it. Because we kept saying Ms. Mistress.

Source: Erzurum’dan Ölümüne Kadar, Atatürk’le Beraber, Mazhar Müfit Kansu, Ankara 1966, Sayfa: 481