Anglo-Turkish Friendship – in the House of Commons at on 25 March 1943.
Mr Douglas Clifton Brown
, Hexham
made the following communication to the House:
I have to inform the House that I have received the following telegram from the President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey:
"While making the Ministerial declaration to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on the occasion of the constitution of his new Cabinet, M. Sukru Sarajoglu, President of the Council, defined Anglo-Turkish relations in the following terms:
'After this survey of the general lines of our policy there is one point on which particular emphasis should be laid, that is, Anglo-Turkish friendship. After the Adana conference, having got to know Mr. Churchill more intimately, we have begun to love him better. We see around us the outstretched hands of all British statesmen beginning with Mr. Churchill and we hear the cordial words of these same statesmen. The House of Lords has also been the scene of a new manifestation of this friendship. Our British friends may rest assured that with all sincerity we grasp their outstretched hands and that we consider the cordial words which come to us from England as the echo of those which we from the bottom of our hearts address to London. For it is our conviction that Anglo-Turkish friendship is not only a friendship dictated by mutual interest but also by one of the most vital needs of the two countries.'
I am happy to tell you that this declaration on the part of the President of the Council was received with applause and an enthusiastic and unanimous ovation from the whole Assembly. I take this opportunity to pay to you, Mr. Speaker, my highest respects."
Mr Douglas Clifton Brown
, Hexham
I propose to send the following reply on behalf of the House:
"It was with great pleasure and satisfaction that the House of Commons, to whom I have communicated your Excellency's message, learned of the friendly references to this country made by the President of the Council in his recent speech to the National Assembly.
In thanking you on behalf of the House, I send you and the National Assembly a message of cordial good wishes and an assurance of the importance which we attach to the continued friendship between our two countries."
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The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
