Translation to Turkish: Emrah Alan**
gao junyu
Gao Junyu 高君宇 (1896-1925), Marxist, a student leader. Gao Junyu was the Leader of the Beijing University Student Union during the May 4 youth movement. In 1920, he was the founder of the United Marxist Theory Research Association and Deng Zhongfu 邓中复. Later, he became a member of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921. Gao Junyu was elected to the central committee in the first congress of the Chinese Socialist Youth Association in 1922. He was also a member of the Central Committee in the Second and Third Congresses of the Chinese Communist Party. He died of a disease in Beijing in 1925. Gao Junyu, who was very productive despite his young age, has compiled and published many articles.
This letter was published in the 3rd issue of the Xiangdao Zhoukan (向导周报) weekly magazine on September 27, 1922. * Translated from Turkish to English by Işıkgün Akfırat and Deniz Eren Erişen.
T H E V IC T O RY O F T H E A R M Y O F Britain has long been depending Ankara Government has swept away the Greek on the plunder of the oppressed forces, the representative of British imperialism, nations of the East “From Gibraltar
from eastern Symrna. This is a major event in to Hong Kong” preserves its
near world history, its importance lies in its inter- oppression by means of looting.
national impact: it has started a new phase for the
oppressed nations. Turkey's victory was neither a ing that the defeat of Greece is the defeat of Brit-
victory of Muslims against Christians nor a tri- ain, which is true. After Britain has defeated the
umph of the yellow race against the white race. Central European Union, with the power of trea-
It is the victory of the oppressed Turkish nation ty on their hand, they hired Greece as hitman on
against the occupation of European imperial- the one hand, and increased the level of destruc-
ism. It is clear that this is a punishment on great tion on Turkey and gained economic privileges
powers inflicted by the Ankara Government. For inch by inch on the other hand. Yet now those
years under the pressure, oppression and humil- privileges are on the rocks. Britain would not
iation of European imperialism, Turkey almost tolerate American imperialism, with hatred and could not even breathe. Ordinary people thought envy, to seize Mesopotamia's mineral oil. Minerthat the fate of the country was on the knife edge al oil is an essential means for the development of great powers so that even enthusiastic and of the empire. In the same vein, the statements promising Young Turks believed that the concenof "Freedom to the Strait of Tartary " and "Open tration of the occupying forces were completed, the Doors of China" are serving for the interests and it was impossible to overcome these trenches. of British imperialism. Britain has long been de- As a result, the Ottomans were begging for merpending on the plunder of the oppressed nations cy in the arms of imperialism. However, with the of the East “From Gibraltar to Hong Kong” prestrong resistance of Mustafa Kemal in the past serves its oppression by means of looting. Even three years, they have won an unexpected great
victory. No matter what steps Kemal will take in though Britain relies for keeping the entire path
the future, his current situation is determinable: open on her pirate forces to attack all around
Turkey, being its hands tied for a long time, now madly, these interests are now being shaken. The
does have a hope for liberation from imperialist most critical issue is the freedom of the straits.
oppression. This would also encourage, inspire If the Britain get “brought to her heels”, British
most the oppressed nations that face similar ex- imperialism would not only lose in Turkey, but
periences and call them for resisting against im- this would also end her superiority (in the east
perialism in the same way. At least, this would of the Suez Canal); and, as a result, Britain would
encourage Egyptian and Indian independence not be able to control colonies and oppressed na-
movements, enable them to reach broader masses tions in the East (including feudal settlements in
and hence empower their campaigns. Greater China1) so comfortably. This is an event
This victory has hit the biggest blow to the that would put British imperialism in the tears of
British imperialism. Paris newpapers were say- a painful loss, and no wonder that Lloyd George
would tear his hair out and announce that he into each other's eyes and utterring war threats.
will send troops. However, we are asking, except Attacking British interests is precisely what will
possible potential minor conflicts with the Turk- fully comfort French imperialism. Some think
ish military, is it possible for Britain to declare that France is not helping England because of its
a war against the Turkish army? It is not possiagreement with Ankara, which is not valid. We ble. Britain's post-war wounds, ready to break all know that Mustafa Kemal's success in such out in their colonies, American and French and success is thanks to the support of the Soviet Japanese imperialism putting their noses into Union. The Bolsheviks want the workers to take these affairs; this whole situation would not
allow Britain to focus on Turkish forces. Even power in the same way they want the oppressed
though England is well-off, the workers of the nations to get rid of imperialism. Of course, the
country has already begun to look for ways to conservative French politicians will oppose it
stop the war. Such a force will put a pressure to death, so they will also feel anger and envy
on the military activities of British imperialism. in Ankara's victory. Moreover, while oppressed
Events that took place before the Soviet Revo- nations are uprising and preparing to attack one
lution might be used as preliminary evidence. of the imperialist powers, how does France not Therefore, as a result, Britain is obliged to find consider to put Turkey in the line? France would a peaceful solution with Turkey sooner or later. not cooperate with England for a while; the crack between them is extensive and in-depth. This victory will show to all the oppressed nations that This victory will show to all the
oppressed nations that only Soviet only Soviet Russia is the faithful friend who will
Russia is the faithful friend who will help for Turkey's liberation.
help for Turkey's liberation. The world trend after the European war is, on the one hand, that the imperialist countries are slowly collapsing into a violent conflict, and After the war, French imperialism supported on the other hand, the unification of workers, the Petite Entente2 Union in order to establish its oppressed nations, and colonies. If we look at the hegemony in Europe, on the other hand, and did state of England after the Turkish victory, these not accept Britain's power in the East, so signed
an agreement with Ankara on its own. A couple two trends would be further enlightened. Let's
of years later, this structure, also called an An- be optimistic.
glo-French alliance, broke into pieces. The only NOTE: The translator inserted footnotes for
thing left was that two imperialists are looking a better understanding of the text.
1 The concept of Greater China refers to all areas where there are Chinese culture and presence outside of the China mainland.
2 Small Union. Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia found this trilateral alliance in 1920-21.
The Views of Chinese Revolutionary Gao Junyu on the Turkish Revolution
emrah alan*
“ THE VIC TORY OF T HE ANKA R A I Am the Sword, I Am the Spark
Government’s Army has wiped out the forc- Gao Junyu was born in the Jingle country of
es of the representative of British imperialism Shanxi province in 1896. His father, Gao Peitian
-Greece- in the east of Smyrna. This is a major (高配天), was a wealthy and intellectual person.
event in near world history, its importance lies He was a strong supporter of Sun Yat-Sen and
in its international impact: it has started a new he served for the office of the local government
phase for the oppressed nations. Turkey's victory established after the 1911 Revolution. By the in-
was neither a victory of Muslims against Chris- fluence of intellectual environment around him,
tians nor a triumph of the yellow race against his father prepared Gao Junyu for the exams of
the white race. It is the victory of the oppressed Taiyang Model High School (太原模范中学校),
Turkish nation against the occupation of Euro- a newly launched school that offer modern edu-
pean imperialism.” cation. After passing the exams, Gao Yu made it
It might be assumed that these remarks are to the school and graduated from there.
made by a Turkish patriot, revolutionary. How- In 1916, he passed the entrance exams
ever, these words belong to a supporter of the of Peking University (北京大学), which was
Turkish Independence War, who lived in Chi- considered an important center of new cultur-
na, ten thousand kilometers away from Anato- al movements spreading Marxism. He found
lia. Gao Junyu高君宇 titled his article “The In- himself in the intellectual environment of Pe-
ternational Value of the Victory of the Turkish king University. The progressive and revolu-
National Army” which was featured in Weekly tionary journals he read, such as New Youth (
Guide (Xiangdao 向导) on 27 September 1922. 新年青), Morning Post (晨报), Weekly Review
Gao Junyu was a young revolutionist, only 26 (每周评论) inspired him greatly, and he devel-
years old at that time. oped a keen interest in Marxism.
* Emrah Alan completed his undergraduate degree at Marmara University, Department of History. He is a graduate student at
Beijing University, Department of History of Chinese Studies. His studies mostly focuses on Ancient China's foreign relations. Email: alanemrah@gmail.com
Like a revolutionist in the 1920s, he was in- I am a sword, I am a spark, I wish terested in writing and reading poetry. The best to live shining, like lightning. And I
want to die like swift as a comet. words that describe Gao Junyu also belong to
himself: 我是宝剑，我是火花，我愿生如雷电之 In 1919, he became the student represent- 耀亮，我愿死如彗星之迅忽。 ative of Peking University. The same year, he I am a sword, I am a spark, I wish to live was one of the youth leaders pouring in Tianlike shining, like lightning. And I want to die like anmen Square for protesting against Japanese swift as a comet. Imperialism on 4 May. The 4 May Movement is After his death, these words engraved on a milestone in the Chinese history. It is one of his tombstone by Shi Pingmei (石评梅), his lovthe culminating points of the idea that China er and famous writer.
must struggle against its internal and external Despite his young age, Gao Junyu was a
enemies as one. May 4, 1919, regarded as the prolific writer. All his articles have been com-
New Democracy Revolution of China, is also piled and published several times.
celebrated as Youth Day every year in China.
As regards its causes and outcomes, the 4 May The Turkish Revolution Has Been
Movement has many similarities with Mustafa Made Against Imperialism
Kemal’s arrival in Samsun on May 19, 1919, the There has been conducted various research on
emblematic moment of the Turkish Independ- the international effects of the Turkish War of In-
ence War. dependence especially on the oppressed nations.
Gao Junyu joined the Communist Party After the victory, the impact of the Turkish War
of China (CPC) in 1921. He was elected as an of Independence has reached far beyond Anato-
executive member of the Central Committee of lia. All the countries who confronted imperialism
China Socialist Youth League during its found- from Egypt to India, and China, have closely ex-
ing congress in 1922. He was also elected as a amined this great historical event. As a Chinese
Central Committee member of CPC in the Sec- revolutionary, Gan Junyu was closely following
ond and Third National Congresses. the developments concerning the imperialist na-
In 1924, the Party appointed him as the sec- tions and the movements who struggle against
retary of Sun Yat-Sen. imperialism in order to find solutions to the
He passed away in Beijing in 1925 due to problems of his own country. Only two weeks af-
tuberculosis, when he was only 29 years old. His ter The Great Offensive (Turkish: Büyük Taarruz)
premature death is one of the greatest losses of was completed successfully and Izmir was liber-
the Chinese Revolution. China has lost a jewel at ated on September 9, 1922, the article titled “The
a young age, but a spark was extinguished. Gao International Value of Victory of the Turkish Na-
Junyu’s tomb is located in Taoran Pavillion Park tional Army” was published ten thousand kilome-
(陶然亭公园) in Beijing. ters away from Izmir. This is a concrete proof that
tion in 1922 as it was, ten thousand kilometers This would also encourage, inspire away from Anatolia. most the oppressed nations that
face similar experiences and In the period leading to the liberation of
call them for resisting against Istanbul after the Great Victory, the possibility
imperialism in the same way. of a conflict with Britain was being discussed in
At least, this would encourage the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Gao Egyptian and Indian independence
movements by enabling them Junyu's analysis echoed that of Mustafa Kemal
to reach broader masses and and clarified that Britain has no strength what-
rendering them empowered. soever to fight.
“We should ask whether it is possible for
the Chinese revolutionaries were following the Great Britain to declare war to the Turkish army,
Turkish War of Independence very closely. even though the station troops in the straits
In this article, Gao Junyu clearly describes may engage in minor conflicts with the Turkish
the scope and the impact as well as the fronts army. It may be said that this is impossible. After
of the Turkish War of Independence: World War I, the situation of the colonies ris un-
“No matter what steps Kemal will take in stable, and United States, French, and Japanese
the future, his condition in the present may be imperialisms would not allow Britain to focus
determined: Turkey, being its hands tied for on the military strength of Turkey. Even though
a long time, now does have a hope for liber- Britain is a well-off country, British workers are
ation from imperialist oppression. This would already looking for ways to stop the war, and this
also encourage, inspire most the oppressed kind of force would certainly put pressure on nations that face similar experiences and call the military actions of British imperialism. The them for resisting against imperialism in the events that took place before the Soviet Revolusame way. At least, this would encourage Egyption can be used as preliminary evidence. Theretian and Indian independence movements by fore, Britain is obliged to find a peaceful solution enabling them to reach broader masses and with Turkey, sooner or later.” rendering them empowered. This victory has Looking from today's perspective, one may hit the biggest blow to the British imperialism.
Paris newspapers were saying that the defeat of think that these observations are rather insignif-
Greece is the defeat of Britain, which is true.” icant. However, considering that there were few
Considering that even some circles in people who saw the situation that way even in
Turkey today are trying hard to reduce the im- the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the im-
portance of the Turkish War of Independence portance of these observations might be better
to simply mere Turkish-Greek war, it is impor- understood. The history has proved that Mustafa
tant that Gao Junyu was able to see the situa- Kemal and Gao Junyu were right.
