Chapter One. Louis E. Browne And The Leaders Of The 1919 Sivas Congress

Abstract

This chapter tells the story of the ways and means of organizing legitimate governmental bodies step by step until the Grand National Assembly of Turkey convened in Ankara in April 1920. It addresses one of the first semi-official contacts with an American journalist, Louis Edgar Browne during the Sivas Congress in 1919. The founding fathers of the Republic of Turkey, under Mustafa Kemal Pasha's leadership knew well that neither peace nor war would be won by military action alone. The legitimate struggle for independence had to be made known to the outside world by whichever means possible. And, foreign journalists were a good conduit to utilize. Contact with Americans was particularly desired at a time when a U.S. mandate over Turkey's territories became an issue. Moreover, convincing Washington of the legitimate desires of the Turks was important to balance against European encroachment into heartland Anatolia. Keywords: American journalist; Louis Edgar Browne; Sivas Congress; Turkey