BEIRUT, Syria, Jan. 28- Undaunted by their recent defeat in the Turkish courts of Istanbul to obtain control of the property left by the late Sultan Abd el Hamid, which was taken by the victotious powers after the World War, all the Princesses of the former Ottoman ruling family met here this week to discuss continuing their legal battle for vast properties in Syria and Lebanon. It was decided to institute proceedings in the local courts against the French Government.
Henri Ponsot, French High Commisioner, this week received a deputation which laid its claim before him. The Ottoman Princess, inder the Treaty of Lausanne, are allowed to apply to the native Syrian courts. Their counsel are drawing up a list of Abd el Hamid's possessions in Syria and Lebanon before filing a plea for restitution.
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ANGORA, Turkey, June 5- Tne thousand foreigners living in Turkey lost their jobs today as a result of a law adopted by Parliament.
The measure reserves exclusively for Turkish citizens a long list of occupations, affecting barbers, waiters, chauffeurs, grocers, musicians, cabaret dancers and numerous others.
Only two Americans were hit, one a grocer, the other a chauffeur. About 100 British subjects, most of them Maltese, were affected.
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ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 21- Orders are out that the whole Turkish nation must learn the new national anthem, "March of the Republic," by Oct. 29, the date of the republic's tenth anniversary.
In all Houses of the People throughout the land the anthem is being thaught in double-quick time to groups of 500 and more. These houses are the cultural and propaganda centres of President Mustapha Kemal's People's party.
the words of the new anthem are:
Oh, what happiness were these ten years for us.
We have created a new hearth.
Tomorrow is full of a mighty hope.
We have torn up the wild weeds.
We have put down shinig rails.
In every struggle
The Ghazi (Mustapha Kemal) is befire us.
The place of this nation is at the head of all.
the official committee in charge of Turkey's celebration of the anniversary has prepared a list of sixty slogans for popular use.
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ISTANBUL, Jan. 3- Foreigners visiting Turkey are surprised when registering with the police and at hotels at the request to give, in addition to their own names, those of their fathers.
The reason is that family names practically disappeared in Turkey, particularly in the towns, and the Turk is known by one name only.
The total number of such names in Turkey being very limited, some means of distinguishing had to be found, and for a long time now reference to the father's neme has provided the distinction for official purposes. Thus Mehmet Ahmet is Mehmet son of Ahmet. So many Mehmets are sons of Ahmets, however, that further means of identification were found necessary, and where many Mehmets abound they are distinguished by reference to physical peculiarities or callings. the Shushman (fat) Mehmet is not confused with Altin Dish (gold--toothed) Mehmet or with Bakchivan (gardener) Mehmet.
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ANGORA, Turkey, May 28- The National Assembly today discarded a centuried' old traditon, adopting a bill which makes sunday instead of Friday the weekly day of rest in Turkey.
President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has struck many hard blows in recent years at Mohammedan practices, depriving the priesthood of rights they had exercised for centuries. His action have resulted in several plots for his overthrow.
Friday is said to have been chosen by Mohammed as the day for obligatory religous gatherings in memory of the creation of man. Also he wished to differentiate his followers from the Cristians and the Jews.
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ISTANBUL Feb. 7-In the presence of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and members of the Cabinet the new school of history, geography and literature recently was opened at Angora. Its immediate purpose is to make the capital the cultural center of the republic and, combined with the law school, it will be the nucleus of a complete university, sister of the one at Istanbul.
The significance of the new foundation, however, is much wider and more ambitious, for its object is to expound new theories on Turkish history and language for which no less a person than Mr. Ataturk is responsible.
The President of the Turkish Republic, besides being a statesman and soldier of remarkable abilities, has considerable knowledge about history and linguistic matters. As the result of many years of labor in these directions, he has propounded certain theories which will be taught in the new school at Angora. They are somewhat difficult to explain, but their broad outlines are as follows:
Work done by various scientists during the last fifty years goes to show that the Turkish race has been grossly maligned by older historians biased by racial or religous prejudices. The Turks are far form being a predatory race of barbarians. The Turks reached, in remote ages, a high state of culture which, during migrations into China, India, Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, they spread among the less enlightened peoples.
They should threfore really be considered the fathers of civilization and possessors of one of the greatest and most glorious histories in the world. As regards language, the new theory is called the "sun language."
Starting with the conclusion reached by the French scientist Hilaire de Baranton in his book "L'Origine des Langues, des Religions et des Peuples," published in Paris three years ago, that all languages originated from hieroglyphs and cuneiforms used by Sumerians, the Turkish theory claims that the Sumerians, being Turks, originating in Central Asia, all languages also consequently originated there and first used by the Turks.
the first language, in fact, came into being in this wise: Prehistoric man, i.e., Turks in the most primitive stage, was so struck by the effects of the sun on life that he made of it a deity whence sprang all good and evil. Thence came to him light, darkness, warmth and fire, with it were associated all ideas of time: height, distance, movement, size, &c., and give expression to his feelings the sun was thus the first hing to which a name was given. It was "ag" [pronounced agh], and from this syllable all words in use today are derived.
This, briefly, is the theory about the "sun language," and with the new conception of Turkish history it will be taught in the new Angora school. Specialists will also teach Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Sumerian, Hittite, Chinese, French, English, German, Russian and Hungarian.
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President Roosevelt expresses admiration for the accomplishments of President Kemal Ataturk of Turkey in reconstructing that country since he became President fourteen years ago, and the Turkish leader declares that Turkey and United States share the same ideals, in an exchange of letters made public yesterday.
President Roosevelt also voices the hope of visiting Turkey some day, and President Ataturk, complimenting the American President for his accomplishments, extends an invitation for an early visit.
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ANGORA, Turkey, June 30- Premier Jelal Bayar today told the Turkish Assembly that the autonomous Sanjak of Alexandretta "must be Turkish-ruled."
He discussed the advanced stage of negotiations recently entered into with the French Government looking toward a military alliance. Turkish troops, under masrcing orders, were expected to cross soon on general staff instructions, ostensibly to help French troops police the district.
The Turkish Assembly granted President Kemal Ataturk's government full power to prolong or denounce Turko-French treaties applying to the Alexandretta district.
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ANGORA, Turkey, July 3- A Franco-Turkish pact of friendship and a declaration concernig collaboration between Turkey, France and Syria over the Sanjak of Alexandretta were signed here today by Tewfik Rushdu Aras, Turkish Foreign Minister, and Henri Ponsot, the French Ambassador.
Under the agreement Turkish troops are to enter the Sanjak tomorrow morning.
ISTANBUL, Turkey, July 3- Turkey today hailed the Alexandretta Sanjak agreement with France as removing a dispute that endangered European peace.
Newapapers emphasized that colse political, economic, and military collaboration with France and Britain created a string chain for maintenance of the status quo in the Mediterranean and the Near East.
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ISTANBUL, Turkey, Aug. 11- A five-day-meeting of Japanese diplomats who hold posts on the Near East, just been concluded here after discussing Japanese diplomacy and consular work in the Balkans, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq under the chairmanship of the Japanese Ambassodar to Turkey, has provoked an official note from the Turkish Government to Japanese Ambassodar.
The note followed publication of an article in Ulus, official Angora Newspaper, in which it was hinted the delibrations were directed against the Soviet Government, although the Ambassador informed the Turkish Press it was a periodical gathering concerned only with current affairs and economic matters.
The Turkish Government said in its note to the Ambassador that it regretted that Turkey had been chosen for a meeting which reflectes hostility toward the Soviet, with whom Turkey is on the most friendly terms, or toward any other power. The note stressed that if the conference had been of a purely economic nature the Turkish Government should hane been informed, merely out of courtesy. The Ambassador was requested to explain the purpose of the meetings.
It is felt here that the Japanes are trying to create friction between Turkey and Russia and much resentment is expressed. Last month a report that Japan was planning to form an anti-Communist bloc of Moslem-Asiatic countries was not well received in Angora.
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ANGORA, Turkey, Oct. 29 - Turkey continued today to pay tribute to its ailing President, Kemal Ataturk, today on the fifteenth anniversary of the founding of his regime.
The three-day celebration was planned originally to commemorate Turkey's political westernization but it turned out to be a national tribute to the President, who is confined to his bed with a liver complaint.
Guns on fortressess and warships saluted the anniversary. Infantry, cavalry, artillery and motor units paraded as a prelude to long processins of civilians. In the military display was the magnificant female cavalry unit of "Turkish Amazons".
The demonstrations, while scores of airplanes flew overhead, emphasized how much Turkey has been transformed since the wrecking of the Ottoman Empire.
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ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 10- Kemal Ataturk, President and creator of modern Turkey, died today at Dolma Baghche Palace at the age of 58. He had survived thirteen wounds received in battle and a number of assassination attempts, but succumbed to cirrhosis of the liver.
It is expected that General Ismet Inounu, former Premier and President Ataturk's comrade-in-arms, will be chosen tomorrow morning by the Republican People's party to succeed the dictator-soldier, here of the reborn nation.
The bulletin announcing the death of Ataturk and signed by eight doctors read:
"The President's general condition. the gravity of which ws announced in a bulletin published last night, grew steadily worse. On Nov. 10, 1938, at 9:05 A. M., our great chief, in a deep coma, breathed his last."
Three minutes after his death Salih Bozuk, former aide and one of the President's closest friends, unsuccessfully attempted suicide by shooting. He was seriously wounded.
Premier Stays at BedsideThroughout the night Ali Fethi Okyar; Ambassador to London; Ataturk's sister and his adopted daughter Sabihi Gueukschehn Honoum, the latter a famous airwoman, remained near the bedside. The first indication of the President's death came at 11:30 A. M., when it was noticed that flags on government buildings were at half-staff. Soon the flags of ships in tha harbor were at half-mast, and gradually all shops and houses exhibited similar signs of mourning.
He was called simply Mustafa when he was born in Salonika in 1880, the son of a Turkish customs officer. His mathematics teacher at military preparatory school added Kemal, meaning "rightness" to his name.
When he fought his way to leadership of the Turks, the title of Pasha was added. Most of his historic record was made as Mustafa Kemal Pasha.In 1934, where he had so modernized Turkey that titles were abolished and he was able to decree that all Turks must thereafter have family names, he chose for himself the familiy name of Ataturk, which is translated as "Chief Turk" or "Father of All Turks." Thenceforth he was known as Kemal Ataturk.
His death comes as a blow to a nation of 14,000,000 people, although he reformed their social customs, their religion, and their economics with dictatorial zeal and speed.
Out of the remains of the defeated and dismembered Ottoman Empire, he formed in 1923 a republic, which he armed and industralized and into a powerful nation. He repossessed the Dardenelles. In 1936, conciliated the Greeks and steered a course between East and West in a manner that made Soviet Russia, Britain and Germany in turn glad to cultivate Turkey's friendship and lend millions for further development.