//Ed. note: The French occupation force arrived in Maraş in November
1919 and took over the city from the English. Meanwhile, Mustafa
Kemal was in Sivas in the aftermath of the Sivas Congress convened
in September that essentially established the formalization of the
Turkish nationalist movement. The Moslems in Maraş, however, were
still very much on their own.//
"We were able to make some political accommodations like this with
the English occupation soldiers but then we heard that 'the Engish are
going and the French are coming!' This region became a French area
of influence and the occupation we thought was temporary was
to become permanent. This news bewildered us all so we gathered
our people together and explained that:"
"' Hey, Moslems! They've given this place to the French for
permanent occupation and they are on their way here. You have
already seen what foreign occupation means. God has shown you
the horrors of living in the captivity of foreigners. Now is the time
for action because terrible days are approaching. If we let the French
settle in it will be impossible to get them to ever leave. So let us now
decide what we will do and get down to business.'"
"The (local Ottoman) government was weak and helpless but they
nevertheless tried to give us some advice, saying 'what can we do?
This is our fate. If it has been decided that the French will come here
how can you prevent it? Let's just see what happens.' In response,
we protested that 'we won't put our necks in this yoke of captivity.
We will resist and if we succeed, wonderful. If we don't, the French
can build their empire on top of our graves.'"
"We wrote a strongly-worded protest note and sent it to the
representatives of the Great Powers in Istanbul, as well as to our
'Sadaret' (Ottoman Prime Minister) and the Foreign Ministry. We
thought that our protest would have an effect and that the conscience
of the civilized countries would not allow the French to devour our
country. Alas! We did not even get a verbal reply, much less a
written one."
"Would that there was someone in the world who would lend an ear to
the rights of Moslems! Let a Christian somewhere get a bloody nose
and all of Europe is up in arms, with the entire world of infidels rushing
to their defense. On the other hand, there's not a word spoken against
the terror and oppression visited upon the millions of Moslems around
the world."
"A few days passed, but then on 30 November 1919 we saw the French
coming in droves. When the local Armenians realized what was
happening they were ecstatic, pouring out onto the streets to welcome
the French. They prettied up their girls, put on their best clothes and
played music, going out to the city limits to greet them amid cries of
'Long live the French! Damn the Turks!' Then, the Armenians
accompanied the French soldiers to the barracks for the hand-over of
occupation from the English to the French. One English battalion left
and a French one took its place."
"Yet, before the French arrived, the English had said to us 'the French
are coming here for permanent occupation. Do whatever you can to
prevent them from staying put.' So, on the one hand, the English were
warning us about the French and, on the other hand, giving them the
keys to the city. Our protests and cries for help were met with nothing
but a fait accompli."
"What were we to do? No one gave us any guidance. At that time the
Sivas Congress (nascent Turkish nationalist movement under Mustafa
Kemal) was meeting, composing the Müdafaa-ı hukuk (defense of
rights) proclamation but nothing was sent to us. This being the case,
we had no alternative other than to spring into action ourselves, rather
than just sit there with our arms and legs tied up."
"Because the Armenians were creating all sorts of trouble, arming
themselve before our very eyes and forming revenge brigades.
Armenian 'komitacı' (fighters) from Erzurum, Van and Maraş joined
up with the local Armenians in the city of Maraş, preparing to
annihilate the Moslems of Maraş. They didn't even pretend to hide
their intentions, shouting 'the English didn't do what we wanted but
the French will get our revenge from you. Henceforth you have no
right to live. We'll cut you all up like chickens!'"
//END of PART THREE//
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