Today in History – 17 February

İzmir Economic Congress and Lausanne negotiations

İzmir Economic Congress was held between February 17 and March 4, 1923. Organized with the participation of 1,135 delegates from a range of sectors, the Congress provided the opportunity to discuss the economic restructuring of a new Turkey. The Congress was also significant in relating to the West the economic views of the Grand National Assembly (TBMM) government. The government openly declared at the Congress that it was not adopting a socialist economy and was therefore not opposed to foreign capital. Emphasizing complete economic independence, the government also sent an implicit message to Western countries, which were reluctant to relinquish the capitulations and privileges.

The dates of the Congress coincided with the interval of the Lausanne Conference (February 4th-April 23rd). Led by İsmet Pasha, the Turkish delegation reached Turkey as the Economic Congress was well under way. İsmet Pasha and Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who was returning from the İzmir Economic Congress, met in Eskişehir and headed back to Ankara together.

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey witnessed heated debates as of the first day of the Lausanne Conference, which commenced on February 27th. While the opposition vehemently criticized the Lausanne delegation and the government, Mustafa Kemal Pasha sided entirely with the delegation.