San Remo Negotiations between Sultan Vahideddin, a "Unionist" and three "150 Persona Non Grata"

Abstract

This study examines a series of negotiations by Vahideddin, the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, with the opponents of the Turkish National Struggle during his exile years. Two groups of interacted documents acquired from the archives of General Directorate of Security Affairs and the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey were used in the study. Within this framework these issues are going to be discussed: the assertion if Vahideddin betrayed his country, his opinions on the members of the Ottoman dynasty, the political parties of the Empire as well as the Sheikh Sait upheaval in Eastern Anatolia. Furthermore, the contacts he got in touch to return the country and retake the throne is covered. That Vahideddin did not have negative views on the Freedom and Accord Party and why he set his hopes on the Union and Progress Party for his return to the country were conveyed based on his own thoughts. The organization which was established with the support of the opponents of the Kemalist Turkey in exile in order to take the throne back and its actions were discussed. Before discussing the negotiations by Vahideddin in San Remo where he spent last moments of his life, the process that led him to leave the country, the opponents' escape from the country one by one and the issue "150 Persona non Grata" are clarified in detail. This study may also reveal some clues on the background of the assassination attempts to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the President of Republic of Turkey after Vahideddin's death.