Well - known Turkish Poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı’s Extraodinary Envoy and Ambassador

Abstract

This article presents the diplomatic services of the well-known Turkish poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı (1884-1958). Although there are numerous publications on his poetical and literary activities, his diplomatic services have not been studied yet in detail. This article by a professional diplomathistorian aims to contribute to this subject by analysing his services as an envoy and ambassador.

Beyatlı was a member of the Turkish delegation at the Lausanne Peace Conference of 1922-1923, which holds an important place in modern Turkish history. At the end of this conference he was elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1923. When he was a member of parliament he was appointed to Warsaw in 1926 as an Extraordinary Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary. in 1929 he was transferred from Warsaw to Madrid with the same titles. During his mission there he was accredited to Lizbon and represented Turkey in Portugal from 1931 to 1932.

Beyatlı returned to Turkey in 1932 and a few years later he was elected again to the Turkish Parliament. in 1948 he was appointed to Pakistan as the fırst Turkish Ambassador. This was his last diplomatic post. Retired as an ambassador, Yahya Kemal Beyatlı passed away in 1958 in İstanbul.

Beyatlı was a successful Turkish representative during the fırst years of his diplomatic career; but later on it seems that he was not as effıcient.