Bekir-Sami Kunduh First Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic (3 May 1920 – 8 May 1921) Date of Birth: 01.01.1864 Country: Turkey

1. Early Life and Career
2. Political Rise
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
4. London Conference and Resignation
5. Retirement and Legacy
6. Mission to Moscow
7. Assistance from Soviet Russia
8. Saboteurs

Early Life and Career

Born in the village of Saniba, North Ossetia, Bekir Sami Kundukhov was the son of Musa Kundukhov, an Ossetian-Muslim Russian general-major who led the migration of several thousand Ossetians, Chechens, and Karabulaks to the Ottoman Empire. Bekir Sami graduated from the Galatasaray Lycée and the School of Political Sciences in Paris, becoming fluent in six foreign languages.

He began his service as the Secretary of the Ottoman Embassy in St. Petersburg. Subsequently, he held various administrative positions in eastern Anatolia and Arab provinces of the empire. He served as the mutasarrif (governor) of Amasya and the vali (governor) of Van, Trabzon, Bursa, and Aleppo.

Political Rise

Bekir Sami was recruited by the British and engaged in negotiations with them during the final stages of World War I. He proposed uniting the peoples of the Caucasus under Turkish rule to combat Bolshevism. Despite his personal connections with the British, his political patron, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, sought aid from the Bolsheviks.

During the armistice negotiations between Turkey and the Entente, Bekir Sami was the governor of Beirut. When Mustafa Kemal initiated a national liberation movement, Bekir Sami joined him. He became a member of the Representative Committee at the Sivas Congress and later served in the Ottoman Parliament.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

After the dissolution of the parliament by occupation forces, Bekir Sami fled to Ankara, where he became a close ally of Atatürk. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Grand National Assembly of Turkey from 1920 to 1921, he led the delegation that negotiated the Treaty of Moscow with Soviet Russia.

London Conference and Resignation

At the London Conference in 1921, Bekir Sami represented Ankara. However, the Assembly rejected the compromise agreements he helped negotiate. Amidst pressure from investigative publications, he was forced to resign.

Retirement and Legacy

Bekir Sami served as a deputy in the Grand National Assembly for two terms. He co-founded the Progressive Republican Party in 1924. In 1926, he was briefly arrested for his alleged involvement in an assassination attempt on Mustafa Kemal, but was soon released. Embittered, he retired from politics and lived out his final years in his village. He was buried in Istanbul upon his death.

Mission to Moscow

In May 1920, the Grand National Assembly dispatched Bekir Sami to Moscow to negotiate a treaty of friendship and mutual assistance with Soviet Russia.

Despite initial disagreements, the parties eventually agreed to recognize each other's national sovereignty. The treaty stipulated that Turkey would not attack Armenia and that both sides would not support rebellions against each other.

Assistance from Soviet Russia

The Treaty of Moscow provided significant aid to Turkey, including arms, ammunition, and gold totaling 7.74 tons. This assistance played a crucial role in Turkey's resistance against the Allied forces.

Saboteurs

Bekir Sami, who had connections with the British, undermined the negotiations and provided misleading information to Ankara. This resulted in his resignation after his activities were exposed.