51. Today in 1920s Turkey: 12 January 1927 (China Evicts the British)

(Cartoon, Karagöz, 12 January 1927, no. 1964, page 1.)

Comments:
I was initially attracted to this cartoon because it included another example of the Turkish version of the John Bull character (a personification of Britain) which I had very recently discussed in a previous post (#50: Mussolini: Europe’s Prickly Pear). I like posting multiples of certain content I discuss to demonstrate that we are witnessing a pattern of one kind of another. Like the John Bull caricature in post #50, this cartoon's “Britain” is tall and lanky and in his mouth he holds a pipe that emits copious amounts of smoke into the surrounding sky.

Another familiar face is that of Karagöz’s peering out from behind a mountainous outcrop. Here, Karagöz is accompanied by his faithful friend, Hacivat, to his right. As the journal’s namesake, Karagöz is included in many, if not most of this journal’s cartoons. In the case of post #50 he is alone, whereas in the present example Hacivat is featured alongside this legendary trickster. The duo is purposefully distanced from the events taking place in the foreground—a detail that reflects the fact that Turkey is not involved in the international dispute at hand. Rather, Turkey, like Karagöz and Hacivat, is but a passive (yet supportive) observer to these events.

So what is going on in the foreground? In addition to John Bull, Karagöz, and Hacivat, this cartoon’s cast of characters includes a personification or stereotype of a Chinese person. This rather short statured fellow is holding a spear and aggressively prodding at the excessively tall British man who is hastily carrying his luggage and belongings away. The Chinese stereotype sports a thin handlebar mustach, narrow eyes, and a braided hair. He wears the Asian conical hat worn by farmer, a robe, and pants. The architecture in the landscape is evocative of Chinese architecture placing this scene in China. Thus, from these visual cues we can deduce that the Chinese are kicking the British out of China.

The text below the cartoon, of course, confirms this reading. I have to admit that Chinese history falls way beyond my area of expertise. So to understand exactly which conflict this cartoon is referencing I had to take to the google (search “China events January 1927”). Thankfully, Wikipedia provided some helpful answers. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_1927

Wikipedia lists that on 3 January 1927 Britain’s concessions in Hankou and Jiujiang were overwhelmed with anti-imperialist Chinese protestors. During the protests a demonstrator was shot by a British soldier, and several others were wounded. Several days later Britain turned these concessions over to the Chinese government. It seems like the cartoon is illustrating this event, or one like it that occured close to but before this publication’s date of 12 January 1927. The cartoon’s text makes reference to the consumption of opium by the people. This is probably reference to the Opium Wars of the 19th century that concluded with Britain’s acquision of these very concessions. Looking at the larger picture, January 1927 is seven months before the onset of the Chinese Civil War (1927-1937) which began in August of 1927. These protests and the uprooting of British concessions are likely preludes to greater unrest that was yet to come.

English:
The Chinese Have Succeeded in Removing the Foreigners from their Country
Karagöz: May [your work] be easy, uncle Chinese guy, are you cleaning up?
Chinese: It’s my turn, Mr. Karagöz. I must first start with this task so that the others will pack their bags and leave. As long as these [people] stay in the country I will never be saved from my opium-induced sleep.

Türkçe:
Çinliler Memleketlerinden Ecnebileri Çıkarmaya Başladılar
Karagöz: Kolay gelsin Çinli dayı, temizlik mi yapıyorsun.
Çinli: Sıra bana geldi Karagöz çelebi. Evvela işe bundan başlayayım ki ötekiler de bohçalarını toplayıp gitsinler. Bunlar memlekette kaldıkça afyon yutup uyumaktan kurtulamayacağım.

(Entire page, Karagöz, 12 January 1927, no. 1964, page 1.)