[MIDDLE EAST / ASIA MINOR / THE GRECO-TURKISH WAR (1919-1922)] A historically significant manuscript autograph document written in the Greco-Turkish War in 1922 related to the occupation of Izmir (Smyrna) by Greek army, stating...

MUSTAFA FAIK ÖZTIRAK, (1882-1951), Denizli, 1919.

COMPLETE TITLE: [MIDDLE EAST / ASIA MINOR / THE GRECO-TURKISH WAR (1919-1922)] A historically significant manuscript autograph document written in the Greco-Turkish War in 1922 related to the occupation of Izmir (Smyrna) by the Greek army, stating that there was no news from Izmir and diplomats and bureaucrats of the European states by telegraph

Original manuscript autograph historical document on thick paper with "Bâbiali Sadaret-i Uzma" [i.e. The Sublime Porte, Presidency] letterhead. 27,5x20 cm. In Ottoman script (Old Turkish with Arabic letters). 1 p. Seven lines, signed as "governor of Denizli, Faik".

A historically important, original autograph historical document, written by the Governor of Denizli, who was concerned that there was no news from the city during the Greek occupation and possibly the Fire of Izmir, and that Izmir was captured while the possible Greek invasion was advancing towards Denizli, signed by the governor of Denizli city in Asia Minor near Izmir (Smyrna) during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), later Minister of Interior after the proclamation of the Republic in Turkey, Mustafa Faik Öztirak (1882-1951). This document is addressed to an unnamed Turkish statesman.

In the document, he could not receive a response to the coded telegram he sent to the governor of Izmir, as well as that many bureaucrats from Denizli sent telegrams to various foreign states, but they did not receive any response. He mentions the possibility of a Greek invasion movement towards Denizli and states that all measures will be taken for this.

No date originally, however, can be dated to May 15-21, 1919 (as seen on later handwritten notes in French on the paper), this extremely rare, historically significant document was written before the building of the Meander Defense Line in Sarayköy against Greek army.

Öztirak built the Meander Defense Line in Sarayköy during the Greco-Turkish War in 1919-1922 against the Greek forces. While he was the governor of Denizli, he joined the Turkish National Struggle and organized the Kuva-yi Milliye [i.e. irregular Turkish militia forces] units in the region.