Observations and Insights on Mustafa Kemal Pasha's Western Anatolian Travels to Eskişehir, İzmit, Bilecik, and Bursa (January 1923)

Abstract

Mustafa Kemal Pasha's journey through Western Anatolia, encompassing Eski & scedil;ehir, Bilecik, & Idot;zmit, and Bursa, and concluding in & Idot;zmir, marked his first extensive domestic tour and served as an opportunity for direct engagement with the public, effectively functioning as a public opinion survey. During this journey, Mustafa Kemal Pasha sought to assess the state of the military following the National Struggle and to address the concerns of the people directly, providing immediate and detailed responses to their inquiries. This research covers the part of the trip that took place between January 14 and February 17, 1923, and lasted a little more than a month, until the Pasha's arrival in Izmir on January 25, 1923. During this time Mustafa Kemal Pasha featured official ceremonies and large crowds welcoming him at each stop. He met with the public at train stations and cinema halls, listened to their grievances, and delivered explanations regarding the nation's critical issues. Key topics on his agenda included the Lausanne Conference, the Caliphate, and the establishment of the People's Party. This study traces Mustafa Kemal Pasha's journey through Western Anatolia step by step, analysing his speeches and addresses to evaluate the process that ultimately led to the proclamation of the Republic.