TRIPARTITE TREATY. (Hansard, 19 October 1939)

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)
I beg to move, "That this House do now adjourn."
I do so in order to make an important statement. I am aware that I am adopting an unusual course and one which is not in order, having regard to the business now before the House. But I hope that with your leave, Mr. Speaker, and with the permission of the House, I may be allowed to make the statement.

§ Mr. Speaker
In reply to the Prime Minister, it is certainly contrary to the practice of the House for the Adjournment of the House to be moved for such a purpose while a Debate on another matter is proceeding. As the Prime Minister has an important announcement to make, and it is necessary in the public interest that it should be made immediately in the House of Commons, perhaps the House will agree that this course should be taken. If so, I should like to say that it must not be taken as a precedent.

§ The Prime Minister
The House will remember that I made a statement on 12th May in the House to the effect that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Turkish Government had agreed to conclude a definitive long- 1128 term agreement of a reciprocal character in the interests of their national security. Pending the conclusion of this agreement, His Majesty's Government and the Turkish Government declared that in certain circumstances they were prepared to co-operate effectively and to lend each other all aid and assistance in their power. It was subsequently decided, as a result of conversations between His Majesty's Government and the Turkish Government and the French Government, that this long-term agreement should be in the form of a Tripartite Treaty between Great Britain, France and Turkey. Though the negotiations which have been proceeding since I made the statement on 12th May have been protracted, they have never shown any material difference in views and they have throughout been conducted in an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence.
Agreement on the terms of the Treaty was reached some three weeks ago, but signature was postponed with the concurrence of His Majesty's Government and the French Government as it was hoped by the Turkish Government that the visit of the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs to Moscow might result in the conclusion between Turkey and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of a parallel treaty. The negotiations which M. Sarajoglu has been conducting at Moscow have now been temporarily suspended as the Turkish Government felt that certain of the proposals which were made to them could not be reconciled with points which had already been agreed upon between Turkey on the one hand and Great Britain and France on the other. Nevertheless, it has been announced both from Moscow and Angora that Turkish relations with the Soviet Government continue, as in the past, to rest on a foundation of friendship. Meanwhile, the Turkish Government have decided not to defer any longer the signature of the Anglo-French-Turkish Treaty, and I am glad to be able to announce to the House that the Treaty was signed at Angora half an hour ago. The full text of the Treaty will be made available to hon. Members to-morrow.
I would call attention to the fact that the Treaty is valid for a minimum period of 15 years; it is, therefore, no temporary arrangement to meet a pressing emergency but is a solid testimony to the 1129 determination of the three Governments concerned to pursue a long-term policy of collaboration. I am sure that it will give the House great satisfaction to learn that our negotiations have been brought to this successful conclusion, and that the seal has been set on our close and cordial relations with a country for the qualities and character of whose people we have the highest regard and admiration.

§ Mr. Attlee
I am quite sure that I shall be expressing the views not only of Members on this side of the House but in all parts of the House, in welcoming the statement made by the Prime Minister that we have brought to a successful conclusion these negotiations for a tripartite agreement between Great Britain, France and Turkey, and to express the hope that it may long endure and that our friendship with Turkey may be strengthened for many years to come.

§ Sir Percy Harris
In the absence of my right hon. Friend the Member for Caithness (Sir A. Sinclair) I desire to congratulate the Prime Minister on having made his announcement so promptly to the House. The Prime Minister has shown a readiness during these trying weeks to take the House of Commons into his confidence, and I can assure him that it is appreciated by the House as a whole. May I say that we do feel, at a time like this, that it is a great triumph for the Foreign Secretary and the Government as a whole to have so successfully guided what must have been difficult and delicate negotiations? At a period in history when many Governments have had to face great difficulties since the war it is remarkable that Turkey has been one of the countries that has made immense progress in the arts of civilisation and economic development and, therefore, it is very satisfactory to us that they should be standing alongside this country in its fight for law and order and for decency in international affairs.

§ Mr. Garro Jones
I want to put only one question to the Prime Minister. Without wishing to press for any premature publication of the terms before it is considered expedient to publish them, may I ask whether he is able to say that the full terms of the Treaty will be published to-morrow?

§ The Prime Minister
I do not know what the hon. Member means. The full terms of the Treaty as signed will be published to-morrow.