The Saga of a Friendship

520 pp, b/w figures, in English.

This book, which is based on archival documents and private letters that are being used for the first time, chronicles the little known but fascinating story of Asa Kent Jennings, a YM (A. secretary, who arrived to Izmir in September 1922 just after the Turkish Nationalist Forces had liberated the city from the invading Greek Forces. A year later Mustafa Kemal [Atatürk] proclaimed the birth of the Turkish Republic. Asa Kent and his son Asa Will Jennings were thus eyewitnesses to the building of modern Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Atatiirk and the other Republican leaders. They were at the same time important but little known actors in propagating social work activities in Turkey, such as donating purebred catties to the Gazi Farm in Ankara, building up playgrounds, libraries, giving assistance to Turkish students for graduate studies in America, assisting the Children's Protection Society (Himaye-i Etfal), and so forth. The American Friends of Turkey society that Asa Kent Jennings established in July 1930 was instrumental in all these activities. Asa Kent Jennings was also present in the negotiations and talks with Hamdullah Suphi Tannover, the president of the nationalistic Turkish Hearths (Turk Ocaklan) organization, which eventually resulted in Arthur Nash, an American businessman of the Universalist faith, donating a sizeable sum of money to this organization for the erection of their headquarters building in Ankara.

PREFACE 

INTRODUCTION

I- MISSIONARY AND YMCA ACTIVITIES IN TURKEY 

• a) The Start of ABCFM Activities in Turkey
• b) ABCFM Schools in Turkey
• c) The Origin of the YMCA and Its Mission
• d) YMCA Activities in Turkey 
• e) Asa Kent Jennings Arrives in Izmir

II - THE GREEK REFUGEES PROBLEM

• a) The General Political Situation
• b) The Calm Before the Storm
• c) The Turkish Army Enters Izmir
• d) The Problem of Evacuating the Refugees
• e) Edward Hale Bierstadt Criticizes the State Department
• f)  Asa K. Jennings Praised and Honoured 
• g) Exchange of Prisonersof War
• h) Asa K. Jennings Decides to Stay in Istanbul
• i)  Asa K. Jennings' Account of the Evacuation

III- THE ANATOLIAN PROJECT

1) Signature and Ratification of the Turkish-American Treaty

• a) The Turkish - American Treaty of Amity and Commerce
• b) The Question of Ratifying the Turkish-American Treaty 
• c) The Cultural Aspects of Turkish - American Cooperation 

2) The Turkish - American Clubs Project 

• a) Preliminary Talks
• b) The Project is Submitted to the YMCA            
• c) The Proposal of Asa K. Jennings 
• d) Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol's Reaction to the Proposal
• e) Asa K. Jennings Submits His Plan to YMCA 
• f) Asa K. Jennings Returns to Turkey
• g) First Meeting with Hamdullah Suphi Bey 
• h) John R. Mott & D.A. Davis Arrive to Istanbul
• i) Visits to the Ministry of Education
• j) Agreement with the Minister of Education

3) Arthur Nash - YMCA - Türk Ocakları Joint Project 

• a) A Sketch of the History and Activities of the Turk Ojak 
• b) Asa K. Jennings Returns to New York and Visits Potential Donors
• c) Asa K. Jennings Cultivates Relations with Hamdullah Suphi Bey
• d) Asa K. Jennings Meets the Universalists 
• e) Arthur Nash and his Golden Rule Service Fund
• f) Contributions of Arthur Nash to the Project
• g) Press Coverage of the Arthur Nash Announcement
• h) Asa K. Jennings Returns to Turkey - First Meeting With Hamdullah Suphi Bey
• i) John Bayne Ascham Arrives to Turkey - Meetings with Hamdullah Suphi Bey
• j) A Resident American Committee is Established
• k) Agreement Reached between Arthur Nash, YMCA and the Universalist Trustees
• l) Asa K. Jennings Meets Again Hamdullah Suphi Bey 
• m) The Agreement Between Arthur Nash and YMCA is Dissolved
• n) Why the Project Failed?
• o) End of the Story - The Erection of the Türk Ocakları Headquarters Building

4- The Smyrna Welfare Council Project

• a) Funding the Project
• b) Asa K. Jennings Returns to Turkey
• c) The Council is Established 
• d) Activities of the Welfare Council
• e) The Smyrna Welfare Council is Dissolved
• f) Reaction of Asa Will Jennings
• g) Liquidation of the Council

IV- THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TURKEY

1 - The "Special Committee" of the Children's Protection Society

• a) Asa K. Jennings Decides to Terminate his Relation with YMCA
• b) The Anatolian Project Starts
• c) A Resident Office is Established in Ankara
• d) Basis of Cooperation and Program of Activities
• e) The Playgrounds Project
• f) Plans for the Future

2 - The American Friends of Turkey Incorporates

• a) The Decision to Incorporate
• b) AFOT Incorporates
• c) Reactions 
• d) Asa K. Jennings Visits Ankara

3 - The Welfare Society (Hayır İşlerine Yardım Cemiyeti)

• a) Its Establishment
• b) By-laws of the Society
• c) The Mixed Commission 

4- Projects of the Mixed Commission

• a) Gifts of Pure Bred Cattle to the Gazi Farm
• b) The Ankara Day Care Center of Children's Protection Society
• c) The Library and Translation Project
• d) Collaboration with The Society For Aid to Assist Destitute Women
• e) The Playground Projects
• f) The Working Boys Club Project
• g) Dental Clinics
• h) Cooperation with the People's Houses
• i) Cooperation with the Turkish National Sports Federation
• j) Assistance to Turkish Studentsand Future Scholars
• k) Cooperation with the Turkish Educational Society
• l) Prison Reform and Juvenile Delinquents

5) Difficulties and Problems

• a) Problems with the Children's Protection Society
• b) Problems Related to Xenophobia

6) Effects of the Great Depression 

7) Death of Asa K. Jennings

8) The Future of AFOT

• a) The Situation After Asa K. Jennings' Death
• b) Ted Gannaway advises Asa Will Jennings
• c) AFOT decides on its Future Course

9) Celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Turkish Republic Day

• a Preparations for the Celebration 
• b) Celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Turkish Republic

10) The Last Years of AFOT

11) Activities During World War II

V - THE AMERICAN TURKISH SOCIETY

CONCLUSION - WHAT DID THE AFOT ULTIMATELY ACCOMPLISH?

CHRONOLOGY OF IMPORTANT EVENTS

ANNEXES

• ANNEX I- THE VENTURE TO FORM THE TURKISH AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION
• ANNEX II- A REPORT ON TURKEY's FIRST PUBLIC PLAYGROUND
• ANNEX III- RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY DURING THE PAST YEAR
• ANNEX IV- "A CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT REGARDING THE PERSONALITIES OF TURKISH OFFICIALS WITH WHOM WE HAVE   BEEN IN CONTACT IN THE PAST"
• ANNEX V- REPORT TO THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TURKEY BY THEIR EDUCATIONAL ADVISER ON WORK IN TURKEY
• ANNEX VI - ORGANIZATION CHART
• ANNEX VII - PAMPHLET OF AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TURKEY

BIBLIOGRAPHY