A Historical Development of Tobacco Monopoly and Cigarette Factories in the Republic of Turkey (1923-1950)

This study deals with the historical development of tobacco monopoly and cigarette factories in the Republic of Turkey from the early years of the Republic to 1950 and the reflections of such development on economy. The subject is limited to and addressed in three periods: tobacco monopoly in the period of Atatürk (1923-1938); tobacco monopoly in the period of ？n？nü (1938-1950); and cigarette factories and tobacco ateliers in Turkey. The historical development of tobacco monopoly and cigarette companies in the Republic of Turkey and its reflections on economy have been evaluated based on numeric data. The source materials of the study are Prime Ministry Republic archive documents and official publications such as Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) proceedings of memorandum, laws, journals of official reports, Republic of Turkey official gazette, and articles from economy magazines of the period. The relevant evaluations have been made considering the contributions tobacco taken over by state monopoly from the control of Regie made to treasury. The study found out that tobacco monopoly passing to the state pursuant to the agreement made between the Turkish Government and Regie Company brought more revenue to treasury every passing year as a result of the rational steps taken and the laws enacted. As the Ministry of Customs and Monopolies was set up with the Law dated 29 December 1931 and numbered 1909, tobacco ateliers and cigarette factories that tried to maintain their production activities with inadequate facilities remaining from the period of Regie were reconstructed, mechanized, and thus made better-equipped. This increased the production and sales of tobacco in Turkey, making significant contributions to national economy