The Island of Cyprus After Lausanne And The Turkish Cypriots

After the conclusion of the National Struggle, the young Republic of Turkey was recognized by the whole world with the Lausanne Peace Treaty signed on July 24, 1923. Although the said treaty does not fully resolve some issues between the parties, such as Mosul, the Straits, and Reparations, and leaves it to time, it is important in the context of the future of the Turkish state and Articles 16, 20 and 21 of the treaty contain provisions regarding Cyprus. As of Article 20, Turkey declared that "Turkey recognizes the accession of Cyprus to England, which was declared by the British government on 5 November 1914". Pursuant to this provision, the Republic of Turkey has accepted that the island of Cyprus, which has been under British rule since 1878, is legally British territory. Accordingly, while the island of Cyprus was declared a "Crown Colony", Article 21 of the same treaty granted a Hakk-ı Hıyar (Right to Choose) to the Turkish Cypriots.

As of this arrangement, some of the Turkish Cypriots, who gained the right to choose the nationality to which they would be natural, did not accept their British nationality and started to migrate to Turkey from the island. Turkish Cypriots who came to Turkey were settled in various provinces, primarily Mersin-İcel and Muğla. As of the 16th, 20th and 21st articles of this treaty, Turkey did not make a grave mistake, followed a very cautious policy, taking into account the international strategies and planning of the period, as well as the difficulties and necessities of having just come out of a great war, and accepted the annexation of Cyprus to England. has had to.

Did Turkey withdraw from the island after this treaty? I think it will suffice to give a few short answers to this question. First of all, around 6-7,000 Turkish Cypriots were transferred to Anatolia with the right of cucumber/choice given to Turkish Cypriots. Turkey immediately opened a consulate/consulate in Larnaca, and found the opportunity to follow the island more closely and deal with the problems. In particular, Mehmet Remzi Okan's Söz and Ahmet Raşit's Doğru Yol newspapers were directly supported by Turkey, and the first materials to be used in the printing house were sent to Söz newspaper by the order of Atatürk himself, with the transition to Latin letters as of 1929. According to the statement of Bedia Okan Göreli, the daughter of Mehmet Remzi Okan, one day, when she was a child, her father told her mother, “Today, our guests will come, just let me know. Be prepared.” and right after that Fuat Umay visited the printing house. These visits continued to be repeated every few months in the form of important artists from the Child Protection Agency, Hilal-i Ahmer, Darülfünun, Turkish Aeronautical Association, Darülbedayi from Turkey.

Bedia Okan Göreli explained the reasons for the arrival of these important visitors: “…The donations made by the government of the Republic of Turkey by the order of Atatürk did not come by mail. Likewise, it did not come with the bank. In case the (British) government would know, it would be clear in the bank, Atatürk did not give orders to the people he trusted every 2-3 months, but Atatürk was giving orders to a certain person who was assigned and they were bringing the money and they were giving the necessary instructions, whatever was to be said. My father would also tell all his troubles to the person who came and convey the news. It couldn't go on like this because the government seems to have noticed. Money started coming to the bank. Then, when the government started to receive some of the money, they said, "Then it is best to send it directly to the consulate." And the money started to come to the consulate... My sister Vedia was in Ankara at that time and we could not communicate with her and we could not send her news saying that this is the case. One day we received a letter from my sister and she was writing to us, 'Don't worry, our uncle will not deprive us of the inheritance.' We cracked the code and understood that Turkey will continue to support and help us.” he explains.

It is seen that the Republic of Turkey continues the psychological action on the island with the aim of keeping the national consciousness alive, especially through the newspapers Söz and Doğruyol, by supporting non-governmental organizations, inviting Turkish Cypriot students to university education in Turkey, teaching schools and teachers in Cyprus, especially the flag. He did not leave them alone by meeting all kinds of school needs, supporting sports clubs and nationalist associations materially and morally.

With the initiatives of Consul Asaf Bey, who was sent to the island after the Lausanne Conference, national holidays were celebrated on the island with enthusiasm, especially since 1925, and a new wave of excitement about the achievements of the republic engulfed the whole island. Apart from 29 October Republic Day, 19 May and 30 August, September 9, Izmir's Liberation Day is among the days celebrated by Turkish Cypriots with great joy, enthusiasm and pride. The Republic Day, celebrated for the first time in Cyprus in the same year, causes the Turkish Cypriots to shout "Long live the Republic of Turkey, Long live Kemal Pasha" and to cheer them up. Despite all the prohibitions of the British administration at that time, all avenues and streets were decorated with Turkish flags, which were secretly provided by the Consulate.

All Turkish institutions and organizations, especially the Union Hearth, Turkish Hearth, Turkish Dar'ülelhan, Turkish Craftsmen Club and Turkish Association and sports clubs in Nicosia, as well as Turkish Cypriots, decorate their houses and shops with Atatürk pictures and Turkish flags. In the meantime, it would be a source of pride for foreign mission chiefs attending the reception given by the Consulate to hang flags by showing respect to the Republic Day and the Turkish flag. Despite all these positive attempts, the Turkish Cypriots, who are trying to resist the systematic activities of the British to intimidate and restrict the Turkish Cypriots, gradually begin to show themselves. On the other hand, the Turkish Cypriot newspapers of the period also tried to enlighten the Turkish Cypriots about the Alphabet revolution.

An extremely important development regarding Cyprus-Turkey relations in the period of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the visit of the Hamidiye cadet ship to the island of Cyprus. There is also a new itinerary to cover the Mediterranean ports of the Hamidiye school ship. The most important feature of this cruise of the ship, which also included Cyprus, was that the Turkish military force would land on the island of Cyprus for the first time after the Treaty of Lausanne, and after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, on the route of Crete, Alexandria, Haifa, Famagusta, Iskenderun, Rhodes and Bodrum, on 20-22 June 1938. It is also the first military ship to go to the island. In this way, the process of June 1938 turns into a complete war of nerves between the two countries. In a move that can also be described as a show of power, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk comes to Mersin to conduct military inspections and be with the people. In fact, in addition to the message to France about the fact that Hatay is a Turkish homeland, the message that the Turkish Cypriots are not being sacrificed will be given to England very clearly.

Especially after the Lausanne Conference, the Turkish Cypriots, who lost their population and land superiority on the island due to the Turkish Cypriots, who had to immigrate from the island with the pressures of the British administration, not only knew how to protect their traditions and customs, but also strengthened their cultural ties with the young people they sent to Turkey through the education bridge they established. they behaved.

For example, in accordance with the National Schools in Turkey, Night Schools for Turkish Cypriots come into play in Cyprus, and those who want to learn the new alphabet with illiterate people are provided with education here. Likewise, developments in Turkey are reflected in the educational and social life, especially in Cyprus. For example, in the program of the Victoria Islam İnas Sanayi Mektebi after 1923, “… in order to keep up with the reforms carried out in Turkey, carpet weaving, fine calculus on wire, Antep work, painting, music, piano, solfeggio lessons and other handicrafts that require technical or manual skills were taught there. arts, as well as physical education, rhythmic dances, gymnastics, basketball, tennis, scouting, and theatre.

While trying to bring newspapers, magazines and textbooks from Turkey on the one hand, the achievements are followed very closely by the Turkish Cypriot community, followed and enthusiastically tried to be implemented on the other. Turkish Cypriots are the heroic sons of a people who have lived independently and independently for centuries and considered independence a condition for their survival, as Mustafa Kemal wrote in the newspaper Adalet. This nation has been without independence, can live and never will." As he stated on July 14, 1923 in response to his words, "The Turkish nation would rather die on the battlefield than die in vain." and they do not hesitate for a moment to follow in the footsteps of Turkey, which they consider as their homeland. As Atatürk stated in 1937, the strategic importance of the island of Cyprus, which, when captured by the enemy, "looks like a dagger stuck in the stomach of the country" and gives the opportunity to open up to the whole world in the middle of the Mediterranean, is undeniable for Turkey and other countries.