09.11.2026 11:46
Footage of Atatürk addressing the American people at the Gazi Forest Farm in Ankara on November 11, 1930, has been republished by combining different archival records and period photographs. The short dialogue in which he asks U.S. Ambassador Joseph Grew for a word in French just before the address has come to light for the first time. History researcher Ali Taner Tümer said the footage was only colorized and no artificial intelligence was used.
The historic footage of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk addressing the American people on November 11, 1930, has been republished 96 years later by combining different archival records and period photographs. The short dialogue in which Atatürk asked U.S. Ambassador Joseph Grew for a French phrase has also come to light for the first time.
The footage, recorded on November 11, 1930, at the Gazi Forest Farm in Ankara, eight years before the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, met viewers on the YouTube channel "Kronik Doküman" through the work of history researcher Ali Taner Tümer. Different parts of the historic records, in which Atatürk met with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Joseph Grew at the farm and addressed the American people, had previously been published in various archives. In the new work, film footage, period newspapers, and accessible photographs were brought together to prepare an integrated version.
The meeting, held in the 7th year of the Republic's founding, also carries historic importance for diplomatic relations between Turkey and the United States. In the footage, which has come to the agenda again ahead of the 88th anniversary of Atatürk's passing into eternity, there are the moments of his meeting with Ambassador Grew at the farm and his address to the American people.
HE ASKED FOR PERMISSION IN FRENCH
One of the most striking parts of the footage was the short dialogue just before Atatürk's address to the American people. After U.S. Ambassador Joseph Grew completed his speech, Atatürk asked to speak with an expression in French meaning "May I say a few things with your permission?" Grew replied, also in French, "Please, Your Excellency." After this short dialogue, Atatürk began his speech to the American people in Turkish.
Ali Taner Tümer, noting that other footage in which Atatürk spoke French while touring Gazi Forest Farm with Ambassador Grew had previously been published in various archives, said that the dialogue immediately before the address was shared for the first time. Tümer said, "We have captured this rare moment in which Atatürk speaks French, even if very briefly. In previously published footage, there were sections where he spoke French while touring the farm with the Ambassador. However, this French segment before his address to the American people has been published for the first time. It is a very important and valuable filmed record showing Atatürk's command of French."
A MESSAGE OF DEMOCRACY AND PEACE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
In his speech to the American people, Atatürk emphasized the democratic character of the Turkish nation. Drawing attention to Turkish society's understanding of democracy with the words "The Turkish nation is democratic by nature," Atatürk also touched upon the role of American democracy in establishing national unity. He demonstrated that, despite the two countries' different historical backgrounds, they share common values based on democracy and national sovereignty.
In his speech, Atatürk also emphasized the importance of mutual love and friendship between the Turkish and American peoples. Stating that the closeness between the two nations could eliminate mistaken ideas and prejudices inherited from the past, Atatürk pointed out that humanity must progress by erasing the superstitions of the past. Atatürk evaluated Turkish-American friendship not only in terms of relations between the two countries but also in terms of developing mutual understanding among nations.
Another prominent theme in Atatürk's address 96 years ago was world peace. Expressing that humanity must reach the realm of peace and tranquility, Atatürk explained that Turkey's goals were connected to the ideals of civilization, humanity, and peace. In his speech, he delivered the message that the negatives of the past should be left behind, friendship among nations should be strengthened, and humanity should come together around a common understanding of peace.
RECORDS IN THE ARCHIVES WERE COMBINED
Stating that they benefited from different archives to bring the historic footage together, Ali Taner Tümer said that different parts of the records were found in various sources, especially the Film Heritage archive of the General Directorate of Cinema. Tümer, who also stated that footage was obtained from the University of South Carolina archive, said, "These images were actually published in various archives. However, in this version, together with the combination of accessible photographs, they had not been published in their complete form. We brought these records and photographs together and prepared an integrated video."
Tümer, stating that during the research they also examined period newspapers and photographs that have survived to the present day, said that they were able to access 6-7 photographs concerning Atatürk's meeting with Ambassador Grew. Tümer, noting that he did not come across a photograph belonging to the moment when the speech was made, expressed that he thought other photographs might also have been taken during that period. Tümer, stating that these photographs might not yet have been brought to light or might be found in different archives, drew attention to the importance of researching historical documents.
Emphasizing that the process of obtaining and colorizing the footage was not solely his own work, Tümer explained that the records were brought together with the contributions of archival sources and relevant institutions. Ali Taner Tümer, stating that there was joint effort in the stages of obtaining, examining, editing, and colorizing the footage in the work, said, "We reached these images, brought them together, and colorized them. This work is not entirely my own effort. We integrated this historic record by making use of different sources and archives."
NO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WAS USED, ONLY COLORIZED
Also providing information about the processes applied to the historic footage, Ali Taner Tümer emphasized that no artificial intelligence animation or image enhancement work was done on the records. Stating that they took care to preserve the texture of the original footage, Tümer said, "No enhancement, zooming, or restoration was applied to the images. The images that reached us were only colorized. No new image was created with artificial intelligence, and the texture of the images was not interfered with. Preserving the authenticity of Atatürk's real images is very important to us."