ATATÜRK'S DOMESTIC VISIT ON 12 FEBRUARY 1931

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk went on country tours from time to time to see to what extent the republican regime and the reforms were adopted in the country. Gazi also visited Antalya and Mersin as part of these trips.

On February 8, 1931, Atatürk departed from Izmir to Antalya on the Aegean Ferry at 16.25, arrived in Antalya from Izmir on February 10, 1931, and again departed for Taşucu by the Aegean Ferry at 18.00. February 11, 1931 Atatürk came to Taşucu from Antalya, landed here and went to Silifke by car. Returning to Taşucu again and departing for Mersin on the Aegean Ferry at 21.00, Atatürk went to Mersin on 12 February 1931.

Mersin Visit (February 12, 1931)
Upon the Aegean Ferry's arrival at Mersin's port, the Adana and Mersin deputies, the People's Party chiefs and the division commander went on the ferry to greet Gazi. Gazi, who had his lunch on the ferry, set foot in Mersin at 14.00 amid the applause of the people. 

Mustafa Kemal, who came to Mersin on the Aegean Ferry on Thursday, February 12, 1931, disembarked from the Customs Pier in Mersin Port; He continued on his way on foot and chatted with the people. First he went to the government building, got information about city affairs, economic situation and needs, then visited the party, the Youth Union and the Turkish Association, and said the following about the merger of these two youth organizations : Reminding the third article, which expresses the main program of the hearth among the Turkish Hearths, they declared that it is not right for the young people working for the same purpose to remain as a separate organization, and that it would be convenient for the Youth Union to join the Hearth for the concentration of all information and working tools at one point.. He also received information on the municipal elections held in this period. On the same day, he left Mersin to go to Malatya by the special train that was waiting at the station in the evening.

After this trip, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wrote the following in the Aegean Ferry's diary. 

Turkey Seyr-i Sefain Administration
Aegean Ferry
Mersin 12.II.1931
At the end of 1930, I made my trips to the Marmara, Aegean Sea and Mediterranean coasts with the Aegean Ferry. I would like to congratulate the General Director of Seyrüsefain, Sadullah Bey, for the ability of the ship in navigation and in all kinds of services, and I appreciate the cavalry officer and all his staff.
Ghazi Mustafa Kemal

The original pages of these articles that Atatürk wrote in the ship's diary are exhibited in the History and Art Center of Türkiye Denizcilik İşletmeleri A.Ş.

 Aegean Ferry