I

LATİFE UŞŞAKLI (Uşşaki)

(1900, İzmir - 1975, İstanbul)

She is the spouse of the first president of the Republic of Turkey. She was married to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, for two and a half years between 29 January 1923 and 5 August 1925.

Latife Hanım was born in 1900 in Izmir. She is the daughter of Uşakizade Muammer Bey, one of the well-known families of İzmir. She graduated from Istanbul Arnavutköy American College. She studied law and politics at the Sorbonne University in Paris. She studied languages ​​in London. Upon winning the Battle of Sakarya, feeling that Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha would enter İzmir with his army, she returned to Turkey.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha came to Uşakizade Mansion on 13 September 1922 upon the invitation of Latife Hanım. Latife Hanım, who stated that she was the daughter of one of the former mayors, merchant Uşakizade Muammer Bey, and spoke four languages, told Gazi that she was waiting for the victorious army to enter İzmir, leaving her education in the Sorbonne unfinished. Latife Hanım told Gazi about her experiences and experiences in occupied İzmir and invited Gazi to stay in their mansion in Göztepe. He was influenced by the young woman's education in Europe, her honest approach and sincerity. But she did not immediately accept the offer to stay at home.

Latife Hanım hosted Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha in their mansion for 20 days. After this meeting, their communication continued. After a while, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha's mother, Zübeyde Hanım,  was hosted at the Uşakizade Mansion (today's Latife Hanım Memorial House ) in Karşıyaka when she went to İzmir due to health problems. Upon the death of Zübeyde Hanım on January 14, 1923, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha and Latife Hanım, who went to Izmir, got married on 29 January 1923 in Muammer Bey's house in Göztepe with a simple wedding. This was a ceremony that did not comply with the customs of the period, as they were also present at the wedding. Marshal Fevzi Çakmak and Kazım Karabekir Pashas were the witnesses of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, while the Governor of Izmir Mustafa Abdulhalik Renda and Chief Adjutant Salih Bozok were the witnesses of Latife Hanım.

With this marriage, Latife Hanım took on the task of being the symbol of the modern and civilized Turkish woman. She came to Ankara, the capital of the new state, and lived in the Kuleli Köşk (the Old Mansion, which is now used as the Atatürk Museum), which was used as the first presidential mansion in Çankaya. Latife Hanım, who went to watch the sessions in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey at her husband's request, became the first Turkish woman to enter the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. She accompanied her husband on many country tours. After an unpleasant incident in the Çankaya Mansion in the summer of 1925, Latife Hanım and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha got divorced. The news of the divorce was announced by a government statement broadcast on the radio on August 5, 1925.

Latife Hanım, who lived abroad and in Istanbul until her death, absolutely refused to talk or write about her marriage and her husband. She died on July 12, 1975 in Istanbul and was buried in the family cemetery in Edirnekapı Martyrs' Cemetery.

II

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's Marriage to Latife Hanım,

Izmir

January 29, 1923

On January 29, 1923, Gazi invited his friends to Uşakizade Mansion for tea, and their guests were hosted in the main room of the mansion, which was Gazi's study room. The Uşakizade family, on the other hand, were in the opposite room, the second guest room of the mansion, after being informed of the wedding. While Latife Hanım's sisters Rukiye and Vecihe Hanım were serving the guests, her brother Ömer Bey greeted the guests at the door. The wedding was held at 17.00 in the dining hall opposite the entrance. Let's listen to that moment from Gazi's classmate Asım Gündüz:

The war games were over. A great feast was held in the name of the city, in honor of the Commanders. At the end of the feast that lasted until late, Mustafa Kemal Pasha took me aside and said,

- “Asım, take the Marshal and Kazım Karabekir Pasha tomorrow, come to me for tea at ten o'clock, I'm waiting.” they said.

On the morning of January 29, 1923, I took Marshal and Kazım Karabekir Pasha and went to the mansion by car. At the door, Pasha and Latife (Uşşaklı) Hanım met us together.

Uşakizade Muammer Bey, who had been in Nis for a long time, had returned to Izmir with his wife and children. The new Governor of İzmir, Abdülhalik Renda Bey and Kazım Pasha (Özalp) had arrived before us. Even though Latife Hanım was among us, we sat in the solo for about an hour and talked.

But it was clear that there was an extraordinary situation around. I was just beginning to understand my husband's saying, "Good luck" when he was sending me off. Was it true? Maybe Mustafa Kemal Pasha knew how we felt. But we haven't learned anything from his mouth so far, of course we couldn't ask. Meanwhile, the door opened, aide Salih (Bozok) Bey,

He said, "Sir, Mufti Rahmetullah Efendi has arrived!..

Gazi also:

- “Here they are! He stood up and greeted the Mufti. After a while he said with a smile:

- “If I were young, I would like to do this ceremony differently. I used to put Latife Hanım on a horse, and I would get on the horse and run. But now I realize I'm not young enough to do that. (Returning to Fevzi Pasha) Pasha, accept my testimony, and Mr. Abdulhalik (Renda) accept the testimony of Latife Hanım, and appoint our mihri mueccel and mihri due date and hold our wedding."

The Marshal was suddenly surprised: “Well, Pasha, we had no idea, but this decision came suddenly...” he stammered.

While these conversations were taking place, Latife Hanım left the hall, and upon the arrival of the Mufti, she wore a headscarf.

At the wedding, Mufti Effendi was spending time with long prayers. Atatürk turned to us for a moment:

- "I hope there will be time, Governor Bey will perform the wedding." they said.

I could understand later that this conversation meant deciding on a civil marriage. ^one

1 ASIM DAY, General

Source: Asım Gündüz, General, Hatıralarım, 1973. Sayfa: 236

Let's watch the wedding ceremony from the pen of one of the guests, Naşit Hakkı Uluğ:

In three days, I was able to get normal trousers made by a tailor on Beyler Street, and put my costume and clothes in a way to go to a tea. I was at the mansion at half past four. I saw almost all the members of the Uşakizade Family there. Latife Hanım's elders were inside a hall. His two younger sisters and one of his brothers, the late Ömer, were welcoming and hosting the guests.

A table was placed in a large room, the door of which was opened to the upper floor sofa of the mansion, and armchairs and chairs were arranged on both sides. ¹  After a while, the judge of Izmir entered the room. Gazi followed him, the person whom he chose as his life partner. Marshal Fevzi Pasha and Kazım Karabekir Pasha entered the room in military uniform and went to Gazi's side. The Governor of Izmir, Mustafa Abdulhalik, was invited to the room by Chief Aide Salih, and they took their place on the side where Latife Hanım was sitting.

The ghazi was dressed in a plain dark blue double-breasted dress, and on his head was a flat, dark, beautiful astrakhan cap, as usual. Latife Hanım also wore a dark frock and covered her head in a measured way. The wedding ceremony was beginning in this simple decoration. Fevzi and Kazım Paşas were the witnesses of Gazi, Abdülhalik and Salih Beys were the witnesses of Latife Hanım. Muammer Bey was standing by the window with tears in his eyes, the members of his family, his colleagues next to Gazi and we were filling the corridor.

The voice fell silent, and a little hoarse and dignified voice of Gazi, addressed to the kadi, was heard:

- 'His Excellency, we have decided to marry Latife Hanım, would you please take the necessary action?' Listening to these words with great attention, the cadi master turned to Latife Hanım and asked:

  - 'Ma'am, do you agree to marry Gazi in front of those present with ten dirhams of silver mihri mueccel ²   and mihri due ^{3 agreed between you?'}

The kadı master, who received the answer "I accepted", this time turned to Gazi and asked the same question, and Gazi said:

When he said "I accept", the cadi lord, who was happy that he had done the most honorable service of his life, quickly rolled up his sleeves and raised his hands towards the sky, and invited those who were there to pray for the happiness and health of the newlyweds and for this marriage to be beneficial for our country.

After the prayer, I can never forget the excitement of Marshal Fevzi Pasha, who had tears in his eyes, when he congratulated Gazi. Despite being so close to Gazi in his life, Marshal, who did not show any sincerity, patted Gazi on the back with his joy, congratulated him and perhaps hoped that this marriage would turn Gazi's life in storms and lightning into a calm phase.

At this time, the two sisters of Ms. Latife were handing out teas, sweets, fondant to the guests.”

1 The wedding took place in the dining hall on the first floor of the mansion.

2 Compensation given by the groom at the wedding, in the event of a divorce, guaranteeing the life of the woman for 4 months.

3 Bride money or property to be given in cash to the girl's father by the groom at the wedding.

Source:  Oğuz Akay, Gazi Fikriye ile Neden Evlenmedi, Latife ile Neden Evlendi, Truva Yayınları, İstanbul 2005, s. 82-84.        

III

ATATÜRK and LATİFE HANIM

With this article, I would like to point out four characteristics of the subject I have presented to you. Firstly, I have covered a subject in Atatürk's life story, which is little covered, secondly, that I am the only journalist who was able to talk to the late Ms. Latife Uşaklı (1900-1975), and thirdly, that I published the important part of what I was going to tell while Ms. Latife was alive, and therefore what I am going to say is completely true The fourth one is that I explained that I had not written in 1950 for some reasons.

In 1950, I was publishing memories of Atatürk in a daily newspaper called “Zaman” with the information I gathered from various sources and individuals. One day, the owner of the newspaper, Feridun Dirimtekin, called me and added that I should cut the parts of Latife Hanım, and that he was speaking very slowly on the phone. My articles aroused great interest. Presumably, the boss would not have wanted the writings to be cut: “If you want, get permission by visiting him!” said.

I stood at the door of Villa Uşaklı in Ayazpaşa, thinking that I would not be able to make a second attempt if he refused an appointment on the phone. It was a large mansion in a large garden. At the porter's booth I said, "I want to see Madam, I have come for a matter that interests them." Phoned, but insisted on the reason for my visit. So I had to, I said that I came from the newspaper of time. The doorman's response was positive. He took me to the hall of the mansion. I had seen pictures of Latife Hanım with Atatürk on many trips, but the lady I met here was never her.

It has been 28 years since Atatürk left. These 28 years had gnawed at all three seasons of this noble woman. There was no longer spring, summer, or autumn. A snow-white mountaintop, a face full of deep wrinkles resembling mountain cliffs.

"Here you go, sir."

It shows the place. A tall person next to you:

"After I introduce him as my brother Ismail, he asks me how to drink coffee, I say no problem, but he refuses, the coffees come and are drunk, then there is a roar, a gruff and a shout:"

"What right do you have to write my life? Who gives you this right?" I'm startled, I'm surprised.. I can't find an answer to give.

I am afraid to raise my head and look at his face. I speak with a reaction that I do not know how it came at that moment. What I have in mind are:

"Madam, I say, you have preserved your affiliation with Atatürk with all your nobility since you broke up with Atatürk. Turkish womanhood should erect your statue. I will write to you. You have become Atatürk's closest friend. Nobody knows what you know about him. You have no right to take them to the next world. Atatürk is not under the monopoly of anyone. He has earned the love and respect of us, the Turkish nation, and even the whole world. We should know him in all its aspects. But you hide them."

It wouldn't be right for me to write what I'm going to say here while she, Ms. Latife, was alive, I'll try to explain it now. The person, who was raging and shouting like a storm, a gust of anger and violence, said this time, as if murmuring with a heavy voice and heavy words:

-"Atatürk still burns with love like the love of the homeland of the Mehmetçik who stand guard for this homeland on the borders of the homeland... she began to sob tears."

"He said I loved you son, you are sincere... Let me tell you what you do not know. As we were leaving, Mustafa Kemal said to me: "Latif, promise me a soldier! You will not talk to any journalist about our common life." He said, and I promised a soldier." Now that I had the courage, I could speak:

-"Ma'am, I said, the soldier kept your promise. The great man said goodbye to mortal life. You will speak to history, not me. What I have told you, it was not easy for me at that time. We, those who lived through Atatürk's Golden Age, were fascinated by Atatürk Even when we were walking and talking, we saw Atatürk as a mythological hero from unknown countries... In that Golden Age, love flowed from his presence to us like waterfalls from us to him. That's why I met Ms. Latife. It wasn't as simple as I explained above in 1950... If you allow, I will read the feelings I got when I entered Villa Uşaklı from the article I wrote at that time:

"I'm entering a temple. I am in a circle of inexpressible, impossible emotions. I enter a temple, I know that I will encounter a living history, a monumental symbol there, but I cannot predict how I will speak as if I am praying. I know that I will meet a face that has been left behind for years, many years, years filled with a thousand and one incidents, but my excitement is so overflowing, my emotions are so separated from the material realm...

I say no, no... Latife, the first and last wife of the Great Turk, with whom all the nations of the world allied in genius, should not pass away like a Sphinx. We, the generation of Atatürk, should invite him to duty, We should invite him to illuminate the dark pages of history. Even though his genius and will remain an inexplicable enigma, it is the duty and responsibility of those who lived through Atatürk's Golden Age to future generations to be aware of Atatürk's words and actions in his mortal life and to ensure that they are attributed to history. With these thoughts and feelings, my excitement reached its limit when I came to the door of Villa Uşşaklı in Ayazpaşa, where Mrs. Latife, who wanted to remain buried with her memories for years and years, lived. It was as if I didn't come here by walking down the street, getting on the vehicles, getting tired and breathing.

Yes, I entered as if entering a temple, awakened the memories that I had put to sleep for many years, spoke as if I was praying for four and a half hours and left proud on behalf of the Turkish nation and Turkish womanhood. I was proud because Latife Uşşaklı was a monumental being with her love, faith and renunciation. Latife Uşşaklı, in Atatürk's spiritual existence, described by a foreign author as "She was deified while overflowing", buried all her desires, the hottest age of youth, all kinds of blessings that God created for human beings, in her heart with a nobility befitting the slogan of the Turkish nation. Yes, exactly forty-one years ago, in the presence of Ms. Latife, I writhed in these feelings. Sometime:

I was able to say, "Ma'am, you should also write a work about Atatürk." Latife Uşşaklı's eyes shone like fire for a moment besides the deep anguish on her face and she gave the following answer:

-"Writing? Writing... For twenty years, I read the life stories of the greats of the world. I read books in all languages ​​about the lives of all heroes, all reformers, all rulers (Latife Hanım spoke four languages, including Latin) Yes, I read countless books.. Alas. .. The more I read and studied, the more I realized that it is impossible. It cannot be written... The more I read the life story of every great man, the more Atatürk grew, I believed that he was an indescribable and indescribable being."

Latife Uşaklıgil tells...

-“The days when the occupation of Izmir turned a whole nation into one heart and a whole nation mourned. Those who live there are half-dead and their eyes see not the slightest glimmer of hope in the dark horizons. Owls are hooting in the chimneys of the houses, tens of thousands of families have fled from their homes. We, the Uşşaklı family, are also fleeing to Europe, to Nis... because, says Latife Uşşaklı, every day a new incident pours its more terrible poison into our hearts than it is lethal. The air had become unbreathable. Everything, even every good thing, had lost its meaning. After these long agonizing days, a magical wind blows and dark horizons begin to dawn, the birds begin to sing sweet tunes, the trees and fields begin to green, people begin to breathe.”

Young Latife follows the news of the War of Independence every day while they are in Nis.

I say no, no... Latife, the first and last wife of the Great Turk, with whom all the nations of the world allied in genius, should not pass away like a Sphinx. We, the generation of Atatürk, should invite him to duty, We should invite him to illuminate the dark pages of history. Even though his genius and will remain an inexplicable enigma, it is the duty and responsibility of those who lived through Atatürk's Golden Age to future generations to be aware of Atatürk's words and actions in his mortal life and to ensure that they are attributed to history. With these thoughts and feelings, my excitement reached its limit when I came to the door of Villa Uşşaklı in Ayazpaşa, where Mrs. Latife, who wanted to remain buried with her memories for years and years, lived. It was as if I didn't come here by walking down the street, getting on the vehicles, getting tired and breathing.

Yes, I entered as if entering a temple, awakened the memories that I had put to sleep for many years, spoke as if I was praying for four and a half hours and left proud on behalf of the Turkish nation and Turkish womanhood. I was proud because Latife Uşşaklı was a monumental being with her love, faith and renunciation. Latife Uşşaklı, in Atatürk's spiritual existence, described by a foreign author as "She was deified while overflowing", buried all her desires, the hottest age of youth, all kinds of blessings that God created for human beings, in her heart with a nobility befitting the slogan of the Turkish nation. Yes, exactly forty-one years ago, in the presence of Ms. Latife, I writhed in these feelings. Sometime:

I was able to say, "Ma'am, you should also write a work about Atatürk." Latife Uşşaklı's eyes shone like fire for a moment besides the deep anguish on her face and she gave the following answer:

-"Writing? Writing... For twenty years, I read the life stories of the greats of the world. I read books in all languages ​​about the lives of all heroes, all reformers, all rulers (Latife Hanım spoke four languages, including Latin) Yes, I read countless books.. Alas. .. The more I read and studied, the more I realized that it is impossible. It cannot be written... The more I read the life story of every great man, the more Atatürk grew, I believed that he was an indescribable and indescribable being."

Latife Uşaklıgil tells...

-“The days when the occupation of Izmir turned a whole nation into one heart and a whole nation mourned. Those who live there are half-dead and their eyes see not the slightest glimmer of hope in the dark horizons. Owls are hooting in the chimneys of the houses, tens of thousands of families have fled from their homes. We, the Uşşaklı family, are also fleeing to Europe, to Nis... because, says Latife Uşşaklı, every day a new incident pours its more terrible poison into our hearts than it is lethal. The air had become unbreathable. Everything, even every good thing, had lost its meaning. After these long agonizing days, a magical wind blows and dark horizons begin to dawn, the birds begin to sing sweet tunes, the trees and fields begin to green, people begin to breathe.”

Young Latife follows the news of the War of Independence every day while they are in Nis.

One night, he sees a dream, gives the good news that Izmir will be saved to his father and mother, based on his dream, and while the war continues, he comes to Izmir alone despite all his parents' insistence, waiting for the day when the Turkish army will enter. Latife Uşaklıgil's dream comes true, but she finds herself in another dream world that she has not seen... Latife Uşaklıgil invites the Great Savior to her father's mansion to stay as a guest during her stay in İzmir. The mansion is very convenient. The Commander-in-Chief comes with his entourage to Göztepe, Uşşaklı mansion, on days when hundreds of thousands of indescribable people are ready to sacrifice their lives just to see it once. There are only little Latife and her grandmother in the mansion. Muammer Bey, Latife's nurses are in Europe at this time.

-"Pasha, my Pasha..." The victorious Commander-in-Chief lifts him, caresses his cheeks, looks at him with his soul-trembling and shuddering eyes, and they meet eye to eye. In Latife's eyes, eternal bliss is clearly visible... And the victorious commander sees the happiness he has created in those eyes, and because he sees this, maybe he is living one of the happy moments of his life. Salih Bozok, his aide-de-camp, who was with Atatürk at the time of this encounter, later recounts in a memoir:

-“Lâtife welcomed Mustafa Kemal with such great joy and sincerity that now, when I remember some of his details, I can't help being an expert. Atatürk, who did not miss any action, could not remain indifferent to Latife Hanım's sincere attitude.

That famous fire that wiped out a large part of Izmir was still going on when Mustafa Kemal was a guest in the mansion. The enemy, who fled by leaving the city, made the last betrayal by starting this fire. While Mustafa Kemal watches this fire from the terrace of the mansion, Little Latife is with him. asks:

"Do you own any real estate in this fire place?"

-"The important part of our real estate is on the burning field, Pasha... But what's wrong? If they want, they can all burn. As long as you are grateful. What is the value of property for people who have seen these happy days. The country has been saved... We will do it again in a more perfect way.. "

Gazi mutters without taking his eyes off the flames:

-"Yes, let it burn down... It is possible to make up for all of them." Latife Uşşaklı was now reliving her past memories, as if she was seeing the days she lived in. She was going from topic to topic, she, I couldn't ask anything.

-"Emil Ludwig was a very good friend. We lived in houses next to each other in Nis. He had a rich library, I used to benefit a lot. He knew all the details about my life, because I would ask him in conversations and I would tell him too. He wanted to write about my life, I did not allow it. But he could write whatever he wanted, because As I said, he knew everything.

"He said I won't write, I'll honor your tear-washed memories and I won't." And he did not write. Latife Hanım kept silent for a while and then she said to me exactly as follows:

-"You made me speak for the first time. The honor of this belongs to you. I kept my memories from the moment I saw Atatürk. He asked for an institution from America, I did not give it."

When this monumental woman finished a bet, she would dive in and move on to a new topic. A range:

-"If there is anything you want to ask me, ask me, I will not answer only one question, and that is why we divorced. My father did not ask this either, if he did, he would not get an answer."

I could not find the courage to ask Latife Hanım any question, which I see as a symbol of Turkish femininity and which I still believe in today:

"Ma'am, I said, I just want to listen to us..." He smiled and said:

-"Let me tell you about an incident in terms of Atatürk's characterization, of course, to indicate a side. We were in İzmir when I was married. With the advice of doctors, he had to lead a very peaceful life. They advised him to rest. They also told him not to drink alcohol. At two o'clock one night he could not sleep:"

"I want to get on the horse-drawn tram now," he said. I said that it was impossible to find a tram at that hour. I asked him to rest:

"You say it's late, I know too, I want to take the tram by taking advantage of it," he said. I woke up the aides, the calls were made. Towards three o'clock the requested tram was prepared. He took his assistants with him and we all came to the place where the tram was located and got on the tram. He was an old driver. He was cracking the whip at the horses and trying to ride. Ataturk, to the driver:

"Do you always manage horses with whips?" asked.

-"Of course, Pasha, is it possible to manage without a whip?"

"Why not be managed?"

"We didn't see it."

"Give me that place of yours and I'll show you how to manage."

Atatürk took the driver's place, took the reins, cracked the whip in the air, called deh, deh and started to drive. The reins were also waving non-stop and the tram was going. He asked the driver:

"How can I drive?"

"You manage better than me, Pasha."

-"I am an administrator like you. I also managed hundreds of thousands of people, I led them on the road to death. But I did not use whips on any of them. I managed without whips." I got confused:

I said, "I wish I was a ticket seller too, Pasha". He turned to me, raising his hand, pretending to flip his palm in the air and shove it into his jacket pocket:

"Cut a ticket, but don't put the money in your pocket," he said. Later:

"You see, I can manage without a whip, don't make me talk too much!"

Ms. Latife also explained the reason for this event, but:

-"Don't write these down, everyone means that Atatürk does not want a government with whips, there is another reason not to be known." Of course you wouldn't know; but at that time Ms. Latife wanted it so, I did not write it either.

Now, let's hear from Latife Hanım again the reason why Atatürk wanted and got on the tram at midnight:

"After getting on the tram, we returned home and slept. To be honest, I was curious. There must have been a reason for this. Atatürk would not have acted so senselessly. I was curious, but I could not ask." A few days had passed, looking at my face meaningfully:

"I see," he said, "you're still wondering about that night and what was that crazy move?"

"Astaghfirullah, why be crazy?"

-"No, his appearance was insane, but I had no other choice. One of my entourage, one of those who came with us that night, took advantage of what looked like a whipped administration. I learned about the issue and I was very sorry. He served me and the country greatly. It would be terrible to hear that he acted like that, but it would have been necessary to teach him a lesson. I didn't want to hit him in the face either. In that case, it would be necessary to drive him away, it would be fine. Here's what I did to teach that man a lesson. I wanted him to understand what I know and Let him be a lesson!” A great person whose heart was loyal, always sacrificed his own peace and comfort in order to repair every evil with good.

An event that you will hear for the first time again... The great Turkish woman tells:

-"I didn't go out much, but I was making some visits. Why did I realize that a civil officer is always following me. It was a rainy day, this officer I've come to know now, followed me to the door of the mansion. It was raining a lot." I called the officer with a sign and said:

"My son, now I know you, you are following me, you are very wet, enter the hut and it is set up." I called on the phone and said:

-“Pasha, is an assassination expected from me, the police are following me”. We talked. It hadn't been half an hour. He was there, Sukru Kaya came. Atatürk sent it, and he was apologizing to me.

Şükrü Kaya said: “I have never seen Atatürk so angry. He spoke very harshly. Who ordered you to follow my wife, what a disgrace... Latife Hanım, who greeted me with an extremely sullen and sad face when I first met, was now trembling with the sweet shudder of joy and happiness on her face while she was telling her memories. Was it from his eternal love, which was still burning within him, and which, after so many years, never turned to ashes? There is no doubt about this, because when I was leaving Villa Uşşaklı, his brother İsmail Bey, who was kind enough to send me off to the street, muttered:

-“After leaving Latife, she did not talk to my father and mother for fifteen minutes, she retreated into her shell, talked to you for four and a half hours.”

Yes, in the words of Mustafa Kemal, whom I met bitterly, Latif was like a song now. He was giving me a cigarette with the text GAZİ as a souvenir, and he was talking from topic to topic.

-"We were on a trip to Konya. It was winter. Mustafa Kemal was going to have a meeting at the Army House. After dinner in the house where we were guests, I went to the bedroom, you know, I was buried in the armchair in front of the burning stove, I had covered a blanket in the uprising. I slept. Guess what I saw when I woke up. Mustafa Kemal would not have been able to wake me up when he saw me sleeping on the sofa, he took a pillow from the bed and put it at my feet, he took the duvet and pulled it over him, sleeping on the carpet. I wanted to jump out of my place, but this time I didn't move so as not to wake them. The bonds between Mustafa Kemal and Latife Uşşaklı It was mutual.Finally, the writings of Salih Bozok, who did not leave Atatürk for the rest of his life and put the bullet into his heart, saying, "Can't live without him" at the death of Ata..

Here is the signed letter from “Latif” dated 25.10.1922:

“My Holy Pasha,

I had many happy moments. Now I am crushed under a deep sadness. The honor you have left here is the fortress of happiness for the whole world. But there is something else very precious and eternal that is only yours. 0 is our living memory. Otherwise, how can I live alone after so much pomp, so much majesty and especially sincerity? I see that I am following your personal states with all my feelings. Our sole purpose is to serve the amulet (savior). Many times, I asked for a small task. No consent was given. Sometimes I dive, I think for hours with my eyes closed. When I wake up from this dream, I shed tears saying: “Ta Lord, how would the sea be deprived of its glory.” Maybe you will be angry: “What does this girl want from me by seeing me for twenty days? and who gave her this right?” This poor girl, He has read many painful pages of life until now, he has never taken a bad heart to anyone. In my opinion, nothing mattered. However, at first sight, the world's greatest genius deigned to receive the loyalty, reverence, and sincerity that were reserved for him. May I be happy or miserable until the last minute of my life. If not actually, I will always live together in dreams. Since I find all my happiness in the service of your Western State. My only desire is to have my loyalty as a weapon by your side, in whatever form. In fact, how many people are there who love your own States so purely and without any personal interest?” He deigned to receive sincerity. May I be happy or miserable until the last minute of my life. If not actually, I will always live together in dreams. Since I find all my happiness in the service of your Western State. My only desire is to have my loyalty as a weapon by your side, in whatever form. In fact, how many people are there who love your own States so purely and without any personal interest?” He deigned to receive sincerity. May I be happy or miserable until the last minute of my life. If not actually, I will always live together in dreams. Since I find all my happiness in the service of your Western State. My only desire is to have my loyalty as a weapon by your side, in whatever form. In fact, how many people are there who love your own States so purely and without any personal interest?”

Latif

Of course, there were reasons that encouraged Latife Uşaklıgil to write such a letter. It is such a sad manifestation that Latife Uşaklıgil's wish that “I will not be able to follow the muji until the last minute of her life -Mesut or miserable” has come true. Felek could have spent these years more happily, but he had "unfortunate". However, this word “lucky” has lost its lexical meaning for Ms. Lâtife, because she drank all the agony of life with the mukakker memories of her Holy Pasha in those years when she was kneaded with pain, making poison an antidote. It is doubtful that Latife Uşaklıgil lived in these feelings until her last breath. it is necessary not to. After telling many of his memories in 1950, he told me the following:

-“Atatürk is the symbol of the Turkish Nation, Turkish youth should always love him. You writers should always weave halos of love for Him. 0 deserves it and He needs it. You do not know how he loves his nation, how he believes in the youth. My greatest desire is to gather Turkish children around me and talk about him. I would like to express the love of 0 for his nation and country, which I have always witnessed, through conferences. I will do this. It is my last wish to be able to tell these to the Turkish Youth on certain days of the week."

Below, we present a section of news and articles of documentary value about Ms. Latife that appeared in the press between 1923 and 1925:

A very blessed marriage in Izmir: The marriage ceremony of Mustafa Kemal Pasha with Latife Hanım, the daughters of Uşşakizade Muammer Bey, was held. According to the information we received from Ankara and İzmir with great pleasure, the marriage ceremony of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha with the daughters of Uşakizade Muammer Bey was held. His Highness Pasha fulfilled the last wish of his deceased mother with this marriage. Establishing a home for His Excellency Pasha was the greatest aspiration for the deceased. One of the reasons for this trip he made to Izmir was his desire to see his bride-to-be. The deceased, who was very sensitive and had an extraordinary motherly love for the very high merit son he raised for the nation, loved his future bride without knowing first and insisted on the establishment of the home as soon as possible. Then, when he saw her in Izmir, he became very affectionate. Ms. Latife has very exceptional qualities. He traveled all over Europe, saw and understood. He is fluent in French, English and German languages. He also has great knowledge in music. He writes Turkish very well. Uşşakizade Halid Ziya Bey was very busy with his Turkish and had a great talent for writing in Latife Hanım. Those who know Ms. Latife use the only appreciative language about her intelligence, determination and willpower and say that she is a very passionate patriot. The whole nation will happily welcome Mustafa Kemal Pasha to choose a life partner with these qualities and establish a family, and will sincerely and heartily wish this marriage to be auspicious one. He is fluent in German languages. He also has great knowledge in music. He writes Turkish very well. Uşşakizade Halid Ziya Bey was very busy with his Turkish and had a great talent for writing in Latife Hanım. Those who know Ms. Latife use the only appreciative language about her intelligence, determination and willpower and say that she is a very passionate patriot. The whole nation will happily welcome Mustafa Kemal Pasha to choose a life partner with these qualities and establish a family, and will sincerely and heartily wish this marriage to be auspicious one. He is fluent in German languages. He also has great knowledge in music. He writes Turkish very well. Uşşakizade Halid Ziya Bey was very busy with his Turkish and had a great talent for writing in Latife Hanım. Those who know Ms. Latife use the only appreciative language about her intelligence, determination and willpower and say that she is a very passionate patriot. The whole nation will happily welcome Mustafa Kemal Pasha to choose a life partner with these qualities and establish a family, and will sincerely and heartily wish this marriage to be auspicious one. They say that he is a very passionate patriot, using the only appreciative language about his determination and will. The whole nation will happily welcome Mustafa Kemal Pasha to choose a life partner with these qualities and establish a family, and will sincerely and heartily wish this marriage to be auspicious one. They say that he is a very passionate patriot, using the only appreciative language about his determination and will. The whole nation will happily welcome Mustafa Kemal Pasha to choose a life partner with these qualities and establish a family, and will sincerely and heartily wish this marriage to be auspicious one.

Our newspaper offers its sincere congratulations to both His Excellency Mustafa Kemal Pasha and Ms. Latife. Vakit Newspaper, 30 January 1923

From the Diary Book of Adana Turkish Hearth on March 15, 1923: May the hearth of Turkish Adana, which owns these rich lands and such enlightened young people, always smoke. 15 March 39

                                                         Lâtife Mustafa Kemal wrote the following lines in the Public House honor book on March 16, 1923, when Lâtife Hanım Atatürk visited the Turkish Hearth during her trip to Konya:

“To the distinguished youth of Konya. With your right and your determination, each of you will become a hursid-i tabsar on the horizons of the homeland. However, carefully protect your hand from greed and interest.”

Latife Mustafa Kemal

The honorable companions of the Great Gazi, Ms. Latife, were present at the Grand National Assembly's business debate yesterday (1 March 1923), without a doubt, a step that actually confirmed the high success of Turkish womanhood. Because Ms. Latife was the first Turkish woman to be in the debates of the Grand National Assembly. Yesterday at half past one, Ms. Latife, who came to the Assembly with His Excellency Mahmut Bey, the escort officer of His Excellency, entered the Assembly with the duhuliye document (entry card) signed by Bursa Deputy Sheikh Servet Efendi. amongst everyone's homage, they went upstairs and listened to the Parliament's memorandum at the place where the süfera (ambassadors) were.

After the speeches of Her Majesty Pasha, Ms. Latife came to the Presidency Hall and met with our deputies by the embassy dignitaries and talked to each of them at length. This meeting and this interview (interview) left a deep specialization in everyone. Ms. Latife also talked about her satisfaction and expertise (impressions) after visiting the Grand National Assembly several times.

Hakimiyet-i Milliye Newspaper, 2.4.1923

Ankara 28 June 1923 - His Excellency Gazi Pasha's followers have drawn the telegram sent to the Izmir Municipal Presidency and the Central Defense Committee, due to the voting for them in the Izmir parliamentary election!

“I considered the great meaning of the fact that my respected fellow citizens voted for me at the parliamentary meeting of İzmir, with special honor. I respond with excitement and gratitude to this precious favor not as an Izmirian, but as a Turkish woman, and I salute the high people of Izmir."

Latife Mustafa Kemal

Ankara, 8 July 1923

Latife Hanım, the reverend of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, has drawn up the following telegram to the Konya Municipal Presidency, expressing her gratitude to the people of Konya who gave 39 votes to them in the parliamentary election:

“I would like to express my gratitude for the trust and trust that the venerable people of Konya showed towards me by giving me 39 votes during the parliamentary election, especially since this is a tendency and appreciation towards Turkish womanhood rather than myself. In the face of the admirable adoration of our saintly people, the Turkish womanhood acquires more strength and audacity to fulfill the duty of nationality and civilization well. I offer my deepest respect to the respected people of Konya, sir.

IV

AN IMPORTANT SPEECH OF LÂTİFE HANIMEFENDİ

“The legacy of the Turkish homeland is solid with the Turkish citizens forming a monolithic mass of civilization made of steel.” Ankara, 1 (AA)

The Turkish Hearths Congress listened to the explanations of the executive directors about the hearths they belonged to at its last meeting yesterday. In this context, Latife Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Lady, who represents the Kars Quarry, delivered the speech of the people amid constant and sincere applause.

“Dear friends, I am the executive director of Kars Turkish Hearth in your high congress. In fact, I am honored and permissible to be a sincere member of the Turkish Hearth and to represent an important center of ours today. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and gratitude for the good reception that your delegation showed to its helpless people in the language of its venerable chiefs in the past meetings. Friends, while I am fulfilling the task entrusted to me by your Kars Quarry, which I know personally and whose precious memory I cherish with deep feelings, I would like to present to your honorable delegation the greetings and conversations of our friends there with the utmost respect. You appreciate that this greeting and affection is the sincere greeting of devoted hearts (applause). Friends, I would like permission from the great congress to give an explanation about the activity of your quarry in Kars last year. Our quarry in Kars was formed for the first time on September 15, 7923. The formation of our quarry has had such an impact in the Kars neighborhood that it takes the first step in its national and social life. With this influence, I allow myself to state that the Kars Quarry feels justified pride.”

Afterwards, Her Majesty gave information about the division of the Hearth according to the quantity and classes of the members. After explaining the hiding place of the Hearth in the news area, the assistance given in cash to the Red Crescent to the poor school children, the pasinler to the movement victims, the immigrants of Ayındır, and explaining the activities of representing the Quarry in the following way, They continued:

“In this respect, while the body of our hearth consisted of a united mass, he constantly worked hard to eliminate the currents of mashab and style, which caused the creation of a discordant situation among the nation, thanks to the influence of long years, and he saw the positive effect of this. In this regard, it is my duty to bring to the attention of the high congress the need for all of our hearths to struggle as one with determination and fortitude against the differences in sect and style among the sons of the feyyaz and velud Turkish generation, which Ağyar regards as the main source of strife and discord. (shouts of applause).

Stating that the hearth was suffering due to lack of a building and that they requested the help of the Central Committee in this matter, Ms. Madame stated that they also thought about the work schedule of the hearth this year, and they completed their speech as follows:

-Delegates, the happiness and security of the Turkish nation is determined by ensuring the morale and civilized development of the Turkish nation. The homeland can find inspiration and support only under the influence of the ideals of genuine and sincere Turkish nationalities (applause). The good and safe sign of good citizenship is to accept the Turkish nationality, Turkish culture and civilization wholeheartedly. Service and loyalty to the Turkish homeland, service to the Turkish nationality and loyalty to the Turkish nation. While our quarries embody the foundation for their national, civil and social activities, they have their eyes on the cause of the Turkish homeland and the citizens being a monolithic mass of civilization made of steel. It is a natural order that our hearths, who have marched towards such a pure goal and have opened their sincere desires to patriots and nationalists, should inevitably succeed (applause), My friends, Kars Quarry needs the constant interest and cooperation of the high congress and the Central Committee and hopes that it will be deemed worthy of this grace. I would like you to trust that we will work with all our being so that our executive director, who will be eligible to represent Kars next year, can bring a wider crop of overtime.(loud and sustained applause).

Homeland, May 2, 1925

NOTE: This text is the author of the paper titled “Lâtife Hanım Tells About Atatürk” in the third volume of the series of papers presented by Niyazi Ahmet Banoğlu at the "International Atatürk Conference" held by Boğaziçi University between 9-13 November 1981 and later published by the same university. It is a revised form.

1 Atatürk and Latife Hanım, speaking by Niyazi Ahmet Banoğlu, History World, Issue : 1-2, 1950

Niyazi Ahmet Banoglu

Source: ATATÜRK ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ DERGİSİ, Sayı 21, Cilt: VII, Temmuz 1991

V

LATİFE HANIM TELLS FAMOUS JOURNALIST PRICE ABOUT HIS LIFE AND FEATURES

Journalist Ward Price came to Istanbul as a war correspondent at the end of the First World War, and made interviews with the outstanding figures of the time on behalf of the Daily Mail newspaper. Staying at the Pera Palas Hotel, Price also met Mustafa Kemal. Pasha saved Istanbul by stopping the Anzac Corps attack three times in a row at Çanakkale and pinning them to the shore, but also dealt a significant blow to the Allies by cutting the connection between the Russians and the Allies. Aspinal Oglander, who wrote the history of the Dardanelles battles about this extraordinary achievement, which has a great place in the history of the war, wrote the following about Mustafa Kemal in his book The Official History of the Gallipoli Campaign:

"... It is rare in history that a Division Commander won a battle, or even a victory of greatness that would change the fate of a nation, by his actions in three separate places,"

But unfortunately, not a single line was reflected in the press about these extraordinary achievements of Mustafa Kemal. Because the Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Military Warfare Nazın Enver Pasha put a heavy censorship on all news about him in order to keep Mustafa Kemal, whom he considered a formidable opponent, away from the attention of the Palace and influential circles: It is strictly forbidden to have his name and picture in the press. Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who wanted to meet with Ward Price, who was in Pera Palace to interview Turkish politicians about the problems caused by the First World War, expressed his heart at length about these disasters in the country.

Ward Price wrote of this interview years later (1922):

“I came to Istanbul for the first time in 1918. They said that a Turkish general wanted to meet with me. I asked his name and they said Mustafa Kemal. At that time, I had heard the name Mustafa Kemal vaguely. I gladly accepted the invitation.

“Mustafa Kemal was thoughtful and pessimistic. He told me about the state of your country. He was saying in every two sentences: "This is not the case, it is necessary to completely change the homeland, it is necessary to renew it". At the time, I didn't really pay much attention to these words. The biggest mistake of my profession that I will always remember is that I did not discover this unique genius at that time.” (Cumhuriyet newspaper, 70 December 1939).

Ward Price, who missed the most important opportunity of his life, ran straight to İzmir after Zafer and had the honor of interviewing Mustafa Kemal (Interview date, September 12, 1922).

Ward Price is always after Atatürk. Atatürk married Latife Hanım on 29 January 1923 in İzmir. For Price, this is an unmissable journalistic event. Now he is always behind Mustafa Kemal and is trying to make an interview appointment.

Atatürk returned to Ankara with Latife Hanım on 20 February 1923. Price circles around Atatürk in order to get permission for an interview with Latife Hanım. This fierce and caring journalist finally gets his wish. He manages to get an appointment for the 26th day of 1923.

This interview of Price was published in the issue of Tevhidiefkar newspaper dated March 6, 1923. Here's the interview, but with simplification:

“Mister Ward Price, the Ankara correspondent of the Daily Mail newspaper, talks about a tea feast in Mustafa Kemal Pasha's Mansion in the article he sent to the newspaper as follows:

“Mustafa Kemal Pasha's young wife is a remarkable person who will become the First Lady in her hometown. Turkey's military President added another success to his successful life by choosing Latife Hanım, the daughter of Uşakizade Muammer Bey, one of the main merchants of İzmir. If His Excellency had called Turkey, he would not have found a more worthy woman than Latife Hanım to be the life partner of the Head of the Government of Turkey (who will become the 'state').

Latife Hanım told me that she lived in France for a few years and in London for a year. In addition, Latife Hanım speaks English and French as her mother tongue, as she was brought up by an English governess.

It is one of the strange coincidences of the war that unites Latife Hanım and Mustafa Kemal Pasha. Latife Hanım told me how this coincidence happened today, during the tea feast given in the Mansion, which was given as a gift to the Pasha by the Turkish Nation. The mansion is located in a garden on the side of a mountain and 5 miles from Ankara. Mustafa Kemal Pasha brought his young wife here.

In the autumn of 1921, Latife Hanım returned to Izmir from Europe. Izmir was in the hands of the Greeks at that time. The Greeks had arrested Latife Hanım's father and arrested Latife Hanım for espionage. Latife Hanım was sentenced to live in her own house and two Greek guards were stationed at her door. Latife Hanım spent three months in this way in an annoying non-stop. One morning in September last year, Greek soldiers suddenly dropped their weapons and disappeared. Turks were coming.

Latife says:

—"A few days later, when Mustafa Kemal Pasha was victorious in Izmir, I invited him to reside in our house. I had never seen Pasha before. We had suffered a lot under the Greek administration and suffered many casualties. The whole nation was very grateful to Pasha. We were indebted to him. To express our debt of gratitude, they were humbled to accept my invitation and they gave me the honor of hosting them. When I met with him, I realized that we share the same opinion about the problems of the country. I worked with the Pasha, I helped him as much as I could. At that time, marriage was not yet out of the question between us. As we got to know each other better, we believed in the fact that our ideal friendship would continue as a togetherness, so one day we asked about fifty sixty friends to come to us for a tea party.We also called the mufti but did not explain that it was about a marriage.

After the guests arrived, we got married (with a surprise) in my father's guest room in a simple and informal ceremony."

Mustafa Kemal Pasha's wife is alive like a French woman. But his pale white face with expressive dark eyes is completely Turkish. Like most of her compatriots, Latife Hanım's face is small but collected. She wore a simple black dress nationally. Her hair, which was the color of black chestnut, was covered with a black veil.

While drinking tea, İsmet Pasha came; He had brought the ring that Mustafa Kemal Pasha had ordered to Switzerland. The ring is a thin small platinum ring with the inscription "Mustafa Kemal" in Turkish.

In addition to Mustafa Kemal Pasha, İsmet Pasha and me, the Head of the Delegation, Rauf Bey, also came, Rauf Bey, who had studied in England, also spoke good English.

Before Latife Hanım's European tea feast, we had coffee with Mustafa Kemal Pasha and ate jam in silver plates. For this reason, Mustafa Kemal Pasha left the table where he worked with Rauf Bey and a few clerks. The room was filled with many valuables and oriental goods. All of these were gifts sent to Mustafa Kemal Pasha from various parts of the Islamic world. Swords of gold and silver gleamed on the rare antique carpets that hung on the walls. One of these fine swords was hanging behind the sofa where Latife Hanım was sitting. There was also a plate covering a surah from the Holy Quran.

I asked Mustafa Kemal Pasha if he was worried about the reaction and opposition of the Turkish society to save Turkish women, to remove their veils and to involve them in politics. Mustafa Kemal Pasha said:

-"If you think that Turkish women have withdrawn into a corner in social life and have entered their shell, you have misunderstood them. Eighty percent of our people are peasants. Among them, women work side by side with men and participate fully in the life of men. The rest of the people live in towns, in big cities such as Izmir or Istanbul. The fact that women live apart from men in these places is because of the selfishness of men, which is a bad custom. Almost all women are against this. All Turkish women are waiting for the day when they will be in full equality and partnership with men.

Latife Hanım intends to join her in all official travels of her husband...”

Sadi Borak

Source: ATATÜRK ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ DERGİSİ, Sayı 16, Cilt VI, Kasım 1989