On these insistent demands, Bediuzzaman sent three of his students, Tevfik Demiroğlu, Molla Süleyman, and Major Refik Bey to offer their support to the National Government. He himself finally went on being invited by his old friend, the deputy and former governor of Van, Tahsin Bey. [^365]
[^365]:Tarihçe, 124; Şahiner, Said Nursi, 239-40.
The War of Independence was reaching its climax, and on 22 August there began what became known as the Great Offensive, which by 29 September had resulted in the Turkish victory and liberation of Anatolia. In October, the Mudanya Armistice was signed. [^366] These were also the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The Armistice had been signed with the Ankara Government, but the Sultan's government was still nominally functioning in Istanbul. So to solve the problem, on 1 November 1922, at the prompting of Mustafa Kemal, the Grand National Assembly voted to abolish the Sultanate and retain only the Caliphate. The right to choose the Caliph would rest with the Assembly. The deposed Sultan Vahiddedin left the country on a British warship on 16 November, and his cousin Abdülmecid was appointed as Caliph by the Assembly. [^367] The Caliphate was finally abolished on 3 March 1924 after being held for 407 years by the Ottoman House. [^368]
[^366]:Shaw and Shaw, History, ii, 362-4.
[^367]:B. Lewis, Emergence, 259.
[^368]:Danişmend, iv, 470.
With all these momentous events, it was not till 9 November 1922, that Bediuzzaman was given an official welcoming in the Assembly. The ceremony was recorded as follows in the minutes of that day:
"Welcome for the religious scholar Bediuzzaman Said Efendi.
"Speaker: The deputy for Bitlis, Arif Bey, and his friends have a motion.
"We propose to the Illustrious Presidency that a welcome is given to Bediuzzaman Molla Said Efendi Hazretleri, one of the well-known 'ulema of the Eastern Provinces, who has come here from Istanbul in order to visit the ghazis of Anatolia and this Exalted Assembly and is at present in the Visitors' Gallery.
"Bitlis / Bitlis / Muş / Muş / Siirt / Bitlis / Ergani"
"Arif / Derviş / Kasım / İlyas / Sami / Salih / Resul /Hakkı"
"(Applause)
"Rasih Efendi (Antalya): We request him to honour the platform and offer prayers.