Part 10
An important feature of the Sivas Congress was that the representatives at the Congress swore that they would pursue no other personal purpose than the salvation of the country and the luck of the nation, and that the purposes of the Convention will not serve of the current political parties.
Thus, it was clearly stated that the national struggle did not take place in the name of a political party.
The decisions of the Sivas Congress can be summarised as follows:
1.- The parts of the homeland which are within the national borders are a whole and inseparable.
The previously convened Erzurum Congress had declared that the provinces of East Anatolia and the Black East Sea could not be separated from the nation for any reason. The Sivas Congress, with its full authority, has made this decision with covering and in the name of the whole nation.
2- In the face of all kinds of occupation and intervention, the nation as a whole will defend itself against it.
The main threat that prompted the Congress of Erzurum to convene was the threat of surrendering land to a large Armenian state and the establishment of the Greek state of Pontus in Norhteastern Anatolia. Both required the separation of the eastern Black Sea region.
But the Greek danger from the West was also taken into account, which gradually occupied the territory of the motherland from Izmir. The congress and its decision made it clear to the world that it did not want to look and would act.
3.- If the government of Istanbul feels compelled to surrender parts of the country under pressure from the occupying powers, all measures will be taken to ensure the independence and integrity of the homeland.
This article clearly states that any decisions or behaviour of the Istanbul government that is against national interests, will bring immediately an establishment of an independent government based on national will.
4.- It is important that a unified national army in the country has the power.
This was established at the Erzurum Congress and was reinforced at the Sivas Congress. The only force to save the country was a unified national army. This army would fight for the will and tendencies of the nation. The nation would thereby take over its sovereignty and would not accept no other power as its own. This was the basis of a future republican democratic government.
5.- Christian and other minorities are not granted privileges that disturb political sovereignty and social balance.
This article, which was also included in the decisions of the Erzurum Congress, was supported by the Sivas Congress.
6.- Mandate and patronage are unacceptable.
This article which was decided in the Erzurum Congress, was approved by the Sivas Congress and became the basic rule of the national struggle.
There was only one thing: "Either independence or death!
7.- It is imperative that a National Assembly be convened immediately to represent the national will.
This article was formulated also in the decisions of the Congress of Erzurum, was considered imperative. Otherwise, government decisions would not reflect the national will.
8.- The nation welcomes humanitarian and civilized purposes and promotes technological, industrial and economic progress.
This article, which has also been included in the decisions of the Erzurum Congress, states that the nation will strive for technological, industrial and economic progress in addition to its human and civilian goals.
9.- All societys and organizations with the same goal are united as an only organization under the name "Eastern Anatolian Defense of Rights Association".
The Congress of Erzurum gathered the national societies in the regions of Eastern Anatolia and the Eastern Black Sea with the aim of uniting them all under the name "Eastern Anatolian Defense of Rights Association". The Congress of Sivas, has connected all organizations and associations with the same goal to a national organization to pursue the goals of national will throughout the country.
10 - A delegation of representatives was elected by the Congress.
The Erzurum Congress elects 9 representatives from the eastern provinces. The Sivas Congress extended the number of representatives by 6. This committee of 15 people was responsible for the most important decisions until the Grand National Assembly could be held.
The Sivas Congress was of great importance in the history of the revolution. It served to extend the decisions of the Erzurum Congress and to bring these decisions to the whole country. The Congress included not only representatives of cities but also provinces and communities. This was very important for a national unity and the unified resistance. The Congress was the proof that the nation had not fallen apart as the occupiers had planned, but was ready to fight as a unity.
