Anglo-Turkish relations during the democrat party period (1950-1960)

iAnglo-Turkish relations, which started in the 16th century, have followed abumpy path to date. Britain pursued a policy of preserving the integrity of Ottomansoil up until the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877-1878, after which she commenced apolicy of division. This policy continued until the Treaty of Lausanne, with whichBritain recognized the newly-formed Turkish State. Anglo-Turkish relations entereda period of thaw which continued up to the Second World War with the resolution ofthe Musul problem which had been a matter of dispute since Lausanne. At the end ofthe Second World War, the relations between the two states, which had becomestrained during the war, turned into a friendship. Turkey and Britain had similar aimsnow that the Soviet Union was pursuing a diffusionist policy in Turkey and theMiddle East. With the accession to power of the Democrat Party, Anglo-Turkishrelations took on a new shape.With the Democrat Party government, Turkey intensified her attempts toenter NATO. However, Britain wanted Turkey?s inclusion in Middle East defenserather than her membership to NATO. This problem was solved by Turkey?s activeacceptance of Middle-East defense after joining NATO in 1952. As a result of theseevents, Anglo-Turkish cooperation was transformed into a full cooperation in aMiddle Eastern framework. However, this caused the failing of relations betweenTurkey and the Arab world relations.The friendship between Turkey and Britain, which developed with the eventsin the Middle-East, had positive reverberations on the tension between Turkey andGreece caused by the Cyprus problem. Britain supported the Turkish Government byivemphasizing the fact that Turkey had a place in the Cyprus problem, opposing thedesire of Greece to eliminate Turkey from the issue. Turkey and Britain actedtogether against the Greek applications to the United Nations for the annexation ofCyprus to Greece. Anglo-Turkish cooperation during the Zurich and London pactswas influential in the foundation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960. Thus, theCyprus problem was resolved as the Turkish government had wished.This thesis comprises of four sections apart from the introduction and theconclusion. The first section explains Anglo-Turkish relations until 1950. In thesecond section, Turkey?s accession to NATO and Britain?s attitude were dealt with.The third section places Anglo-Turkish relations in the framework of the events inthe Middle East. The fourth section covers Anglo-Turkish relations in the context ofthe Cyprus problem.Key Words: Turkey, Britain, Ottoman Empire, Democrat Party, MiddleEast, Cyprus.