President Celal Bayar’s statement in Jordan some months ago that the Turkish army would be by the side of the Arab Legion if Jordan were unjustly attacked, did not represent a legal or moral obligation upon. Turkey and was not meant to represent Turkish policy. Foreign Minister Fuat Koprulu told the National Assembly during a debate precipitated by the opposition Republican Party.
The Foreign Minister then proceeded to point out that in a general, way the President’s statement did not conflict with Turkey’s position in the Middle East, stressing that as a member of the United Nations Turkey cannot remain indifferent to any threat to the peace, that it has other commitments under security arrangements in the Middle East and specifically to the nations of the Baghdad Pact. In addition, he pointed to Turkey’s interest in the Palestine problem.
The Foreign Minister implied that if Jordan were a member of the Baghdad Pact Turkey would be obligated to come to her assistance in the event of attack. A Republican deputy, expressing satisfaction with the government’s reply, noted that President Bayar’s gesture had not fallen on friendly ears since the Turkish consulate was attacked during the recent riots in the Jordan held Old City of Jerusalem.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
