Today in History – 5 November

Turkish delegation leaves for Lausanne

Presided by İsmet Pasha, the Turkish delegation that would represent the nation at the Lausanne Conference left Ankara aboard the train on November 5, 1922. Personally sent off by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the delegation began making diplomatic statements and holding meetings about the conference. İsmet Pasha made his first statement to the press on the way. When asked about the content of the fundamental issues he would defend at the conference, İsmet Pasha replied:

Our conditions of peace are known by the world. As we did not hesitate to announce these conditions repeatedly at different occasions, everyone knows about them. The objectives for which we made all kinds of sacrifices for many years are rather modest and justified. These efforts have been made for two words only: “National Pact.”

Boarding the three-wagon train allocated to İsmet Pasha and his retinue, the delegation was cheered on by crowded groups of citizens all the way to İstanbul. Members of the delegation were met with considerable interest and support of the public during their stay in İstanbul. İsmet Pasha not only kept busy with various diplomatic engagements during their stay in İstanbul, but he also made statements to the foreign press. In all these statements, İsmet Pasha expressed the essential issues Turkey was adamant about, starting with the capitulations, and his desire to make a peace agreement.

The delegation left Sirkeci Train Station aboard the Eastern Express on November 9th to partake in the conference that would begin on November 13th.