Editing Mehmed VI (section)

=== Initial clashes with Mustafa Kemal ===
[[File:Kemal Atatürk portrait.jpg|thumb|[[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk|Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk)]], with his [[World War I|Great War]] medals, leader of the [[Turkish National Movement|Turkish nationalist movement]] and responsible for Vahdettin's downfall]]
Following the tension between the British units stationed in Samsun and [[Refet Bele|Refet Bey]], the British demanded that Refet Bey be dismissed from the army and Mustafa Kemal be arrested and brought to Istanbul. Mehmed VI made an effort to prove to the British that he had no connection with the incident in Samsun. In a conversation on the night of 8–9 July 1919 over telegram with Kemal, who was in [[Erzurum]], Vahdeddin stated that the British wanted him to come to Istanbul immediately and that they had given him a guarantee that they would not treat the general dishonorably. In a second telegram he sent without waiting for the reply to the previous telegram, he announced that Mustafa Kemal Pasha had been dismissed from his duty as the Third Army Inspector (position since renamed) and that he should return to Istanbul. Mustafa Kemal Pasha simultaneously announced his resignation from the army and that he was ready to continue the struggle as a civilian.<ref name=":1" />

By the summer of 1919, the Allies finally decided to invite a Turkish delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, which coincided with the commencement of the trial and arrest of the Unionists once again. The Sultan demanded Tevfik accompany Damad Ferid Pasha, who headed the delegation, as he did not trust the Grand Vizier. At this time crown-prince [[Abdülmecid II|Abdul Mecid]] sharply criticized his cousin for following such a pro-British policy and placing Ferid in a position of authority. His presentation of the Turkish position to the conference, effectively demanding ''[[status quo ante bellum]]'', produced shock and ridicule from the Allied representatives, discrediting Istanbul's diplomatic position.{{Sfn|Akçam|2006|p=217–221}} The sultan nevertheless reappointed him Grand Vizier after his resignation upon returning from Paris, hoping that stacking his cabinet with even more nationalist ministers could unite the country and minimize the influence of Mustafa Kemal's burgeoning movement. Tevfik, Ahmed Izzet and [[Ali Rıza Pasha]], who were sympathetic to the national movement, were appointed ministers without portfolio. Ferid issued a circular opposing the proceedings of the [[Erzurum Congress]]. When the Erzurum Congress (23 July) convened under the presidency of Mustafa Kemal Pasha anyway, it began its work by sending a telegram of loyalty to the sultan, and a telegram criticizing the Grand Vizier's circular.<ref name=":1" />

After a long struggle instigated by British pressure, Ferid was able to obtain an arrest warrant for Mustafa Kemal Pasha and [[Rauf Orbay]] on 29 July. Crown Prince Abdul Mecid stormed the palace and criticized the sultan for blindly supporting Damad Ferid Pasha, to the point of insult. With a decree Ferid had the Sultan personally sign, all of Mustafa Kemal Pasha's decorations were withdrawn and his honorary rank of aide-de-camp to the sultan was also abolished (9 August). İzzet and Tevfik Pasha would resign from government over this event. The government was again unsuccessful in dispersing the [[Sivas Congress]] (4–11 September). Upon its conclusion, Mustafa Kemal began the [[Telegram War]] by telling provincial officials to cut communications with Istanbul until they give in to Sivas' demands. Within a month, all of Anatolia and Thrace, save Istanbul, pledged allegiance to Kemal's movement. The British urged the Sultan to create a national unity government, and with the resignation of Damat Ferid Pasha, on 2 October [[Ali Rıza Pasha]], a general with nationalist credentials, was brought to the premiership and signed the [[Amasya Protocol]] with the nationalists. Vahdeddin was unhappy to have been forced to compromise with what he thought were unreconstructed Unionists rebelling against rightful monarch.<ref name=":1" />