Bristol's War Diaries and reports to the State Department, totaling approximately 10,000 pages and housed in seven folders, are preserved in the archives of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. The diaries and reports are important primary sources, conveying the observations of an American high commissioner who meticulously recorded the political, military, and social events of the period. Admiral Mark Lambert Bristol served in Türkiye for approximately eight and a half years, from early 1919 to mid-1927, during which time he witnessed firsthand the final years of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish War of Independence, and the founding of the Republic of Türkiye.

His Duty in Türkiye and First Impressions

Admiral Bristol was the second naval officer to represent the United States on Turkish soil. Before him, David Porter served in Istanbul from 1839 to 1843. Assigned to Istanbul after the Armistice of Mudros, Bristol was appointed High Commissioner in August 1919. When he began his duties, he was under the influence of Armenian propaganda in America and held a viewpoint that accused the Ottoman Empire of negative policies towards minorities. Traces of these influences were evident in his early days, and he even made accusations based on Armenian allegations. However, as he witnessed events unfolding in Anatolia and gained access to accurate information from the field, his approach shifted, adopting a more moderate and observational approach.

Bristol's naval officer credentials gave him the habit of systematically and impartially recording events without exaggeration. Unlike previous representatives, he was not a devout Christian; he rarely attended the Sunday services organized by the American Colony in Istanbul and, in his own words, lived by his own understanding of faith beyond religious observance. This approach distinguished Bristol from other Western diplomats of the period.

Observations on the National Struggle and Mustafa Kemal Pasha

Admiral Bristol's first direct record of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and the National Struggle movement dates from July 20, 1919, three days before the Erzurum Congress. In this record, Bristol describes the existence of a rapidly organizing Nationalist Movement in Anatolia and emphasizes its independence from the Istanbul Government. He states that Mustafa Kemal Pasha and Rauf Bey were the spearhead of the movement and offers early assessments of its future.

Initially using the term "Turkish Nationalists," in line with British terminology, Bristol later used the term "Kemalist Movement" in his reports. Due to the clandestine nature of the National Struggle within Anatolia, Bristol's initial reports were based on indirect information from the field. However, as his direct observations of events in Anatolia and the information he obtained from reliable sources increased, he modified his preconceived assessments, particularly regarding the situation of minorities.

In a report following the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in April 1920, he noted the orderly functioning of the Nationalist Parliament in Ankara and Mustafa Kemal Pasha's democratic style. He also emphasized that Mustafa Kemal Pasha was not a Bolshevik supporter. However, in early 1921, following the advance of the Greek army, he predicted that the National Struggle would fail. Despite this, information from the missionary T. Allen he sent to Ankara contained observations demonstrating that the National Struggle was institutional rather than individual-centered.

Post-Lausanne Assessments

Bristol's reports contain detailed observations of developments in Türkiye following the Lausanne Peace Conference. Initially, he criticized Mustafa Kemal Pasha's role as both President and party leader, believing it incompatible with democratic principles. However, he soon softened his assessment, recognizing the extraordinary circumstances.

He did not meet directly with Mustafa Kemal Pasha until 1924, instead seeking information through reliable sources in Ankara. His first face-to-face meeting took place on February 18, 1926, at the Ankara Club. The development of Turkish-American relations after the Treaty of Lausanne and the modus vivendi agreement established by the exchange of notes between the two countries were discussed. This meeting with Mustafa Kemal Pasha led Bristol to adopt a much more positive tone in his reports.

Bristol detailed Mustafa Kemal Pasha's political stance prioritizing national sovereignty, the organized structure of the War of Independence, and the Republic's modernization reforms. In his reports, he emphasized Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha's public esteem and leadership qualities, but he also periodically expressed his concerns about democratic functioning.

The US View of Türkiye and the Importance of the Reports

Admiral Bristol's reports also include observations regarding the protection of US interests in Turkish territory. While the US did not participate in the occupations following the Armistice of Mudros, it closely followed developments in the country through its High Commissioner. During this period, the US's primary objectives were the protection of non-Muslim minorities in Ottoman lands and the security of American educational, religious, and charitable institutions.

Bristol, influenced by Armenian propaganda upon taking office and his accusations against the Ottoman Empire, gradually shifted as he witnessed events in Anatolia. Despite being accused of being pro-Turkish by Armenian committees and Greek groups, he maintained a neutral stance and questioned the veracity of the propaganda allegations.

These reports also played a significant role in shaping Turkish-American relations. The US, which attended the Lausanne Conference as an observer, was particularly insistent on the capitulations and the Straits regime, but failed to achieve its objectives. Following the US Senate's failure to ratify the Treaty of Lausanne in January 1927, Bristol traveled to Ankara to restructure Turkish-American relations through a modus vivendi agreement. Following this process, he departed Türkiye on May 24, 1927.

Historical Significance

Admiral Bristol's War Diaries and Reports provide a firsthand account from an American perspective of a critical period stretching from the final years of the Ottoman Empire to the founding years of the Republic of Türkiye between 1919 and 1927. The reports provide detailed documentation of international relations of the period, the organization of the War of Independence, minority issues, and developments in the early years of the Republic.

While Bristol often employed a cautious tone in his observations and occasionally offered critical assessments, his reports were generally written with a principle of impartiality. In this respect, they are among the most comprehensive foreign archival records that objectively address Turkish modernization and the reforms undertaken under Mustafa Kemal Pasha's leadership.