Speaking at the inauguration of Yildiz Palace in Besiktas, which was restored, landscaped and improved by the National Palace Presidency, President Erdogan said the palace holds a special place in the history of the national struggle, saying:
“Gazi Mustafa Kemal came here the day before leaving for the Bandirma ferry and met Sultan Vahdettin. Gazi Mustafa Kemal described the historic meeting as follows: “In a small hall in the Yıldız Palace, he and Vahdettin were almost knee to knee.” We sat down and the view from the window of the hall facing the Bosphorus looked as if the enemy’s armored cannons were aimed at the Yıldız Palace. Vahdettin began to speak words that will never be forgotten: “You have served the country up until now, which are written in this book and have left your name in history. Forget these things. The service you will perform from now on may be the most important. You can save the country.” So Gazi Mustafa Kemal gave Sultan Vahdettin the following answer: “After receiving the congratulations of ‘May you succeed,’ I left the palace. We left the palace without a sound of footsteps.”
However, what the historical adviser to the complex, Murat Bardakci, said at a Teketek program he attended last year contrasts with Erdogan’s words. Bardakci said he had memories of Vahdettin and said:
“Fatih Altaïr: What you are saying is that Vahdettin thinks that he can end the occupation by getting along with the British and becoming friends with the British, and he says that openly. And Vahdettin is already British and has friendship with the British. I don’t know about Vahdettin in your book…
Murat Bardakı: It’s not a compliment, it’s a fear…
Fatih Altaïr: If Ataturk is part of the nation, he says, brother, we must have a struggle for independence.
Murat Bardakçu: I can’t say that the struggle for independence is complete. There is a difference in “it is necessary to do something”, so let’s not miss the nuance. They say we have to do something. And Ali Fuat Pasha, Kazım Karabekir, Mustafa Kemal Pasha… these were sent. A person cannot just go and say “I’m here, let’s organize it.” A formal appointment is required. It was signed by Sultan Vahdettin. The appointment decree has the signatures of Damat Ferit Pasha, Şakir Pasha and Sultan Vahdettin. But Vahdettin did not issue this decree or will, rather it is not “go and save the country”. Mustafa Kemal did not say so, and he did not say it himself. They are going to do something. Mr. Vahdettin completed the procedure as the last signatory. Now, it is one thing for Vahdettin to leave with a signed will, and another for Vahdettin to say: “Go Pasha, save the country, start the fight, expel the enemies.” Not at all. I cannot explain this to anyone, but why is it not understood? Unfortunately, in Turkey history has become a means of calculation. “We are completely politicized, we are gouging each other’s eyes, so we will use history in this matter as well.”
odatv.com
