71-In the Erzerum and Sivas Congresses the national will had clearly been formulated

In the Erzerum and Sivas Congresses the national will had clearly been formulated.

In the Erzerum and Sivas Congresses the national will had clearly been formulated.

Those who had been elected deputies by the nation, because they had openly declared their fidelity to the principles laid down at these congresses, had before anything else to form a party that shared these principles and that bore a characteristic name which expressed the purpose of the union that had supported these principles, namely, the “Party representing the Union for the Defence of the Rights.”

Supported by the national organisations and emanating from the nation itself, this party had to accept the duty of courageously re presenting and defending the sacred claims of the nation throughout the land.

We also consulted the deputies as to the way in which the claims and aims of the nation should be expressed in short and weighty terms, so that these could form the basis of a concise programme. To gather some idea of it, preliminary drafts of such a programme were made which was called the “National Pact.”

These bases were finally determined upon in the Chamber in Con stantinople and were clearly defined.

All the individual persons and parties with whom we had dis cussed these questions left us with the assurance that they were fully in accord with us. Nevertheless, we never heard that they had formed a party in the Chamber in Constantinople that was called the “Party for the Defence of the Rights.” Why was that? 3io

Yes, indeed, why? I have waited for a reply to that question until to-day. Because, these gentlemen felt that they were bound to look upon the formation of such a party as a crime against their conscience, as a sin against the nation; were men without faith, were cowards, were incapable.

They lacked faith, because they did not believe in the seriousness of the claims of the nation, in their paramount character; nor did they trust in the steadfastness of the national organisations from which the strength of these claims originated.

They were cowards, because they thought it was dangerous to belong to the national organisations.

They were incapable, because they were unable to appreciate that the only factor of salvation was the very nation itself and that it ever would be so. They were stupid enough to imagine that great aims could be attained simply by bowing down before the throne, by trying to gain the favour of foreigners by suave and conciliatory behaviour.

In addition to all this, they were ungrateful and selfish. They put little value on the fact that nationalism and the national organi sation had won respect in a very short space of time and had secured their very existence. They cared only for the satisfaction of their despicable conceit by adopting the false view that a settled position and certain existence were things of easy attainment.

Was it a shame to adopt a title such as that expressed and approved of at Erzerum and Sivas? Was there any other title more characteristic or comprehensive?

Yes: we have heard that there was such a title as “Fellahi Watan Grupi”*).

I want to describe fully and accurately certain phases and events that we passed through. I would also like to unveil one side of the question with which we are dealing at this moment.

I was absolutely certain that an attack would be made in Con stantinople against the Chamber and that it would bi dissolved. I had even decided what wei would do if this should happen.