Today in History – 30 December

“I don’t have boots, I have a brain”

In the most heated days of the Cyprus crisis, İnönü’s reply to a journalist’s question “When will you wear your boots?” on December 30, 1963 was simple: “I don’t have boots, I have a brain!”

Although the Turkish government had prioritized a political solution, the failure of international initiatives and the increasing bloodshed had led the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to stage an intervention on Cyprus on March 16, 1964. The intervention was halted due to the infamous letter U.S. President Johnson sent to Prime Minister İsmet İnönü.

Nevertheless, Turkey continued to help her Cypriot kin during these troubled times by secretly landing soldiers on the island and sending war supplies. In addition, Turkish jets were flown over Cyprus as a deterrent. During one of these flights, the aircraft of captain Cengiz Topel was shot down. Taken captive by the Greeks, it was later announced that Topel had been killed.

The following words of İnönü in those tumultuous times are recorded in history:

I can convince this nation to do anything, but accept defeat!