§ 22. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to pay an official visit to Turkey.
§ Mr. JuddIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of growing consternation in this country at news of the erosion of democracy in a friendly country, at reports of as many as 4,000 political prisoners from trade union, academic and journalistic backgrounds, and at accusations of torture being used by the regime? No one under-estimates the extremist pressures which have been put on the Turkish Government recently, but will Her Majesty's Government represent to our Turkish allies that these methods are likely to play into the hands of such extremists?
§ Mr. AmeryI prefer to pay tribute to the enormous efforts made by the Turkish political parties and the Turkish people to ensure that parliamentary government is preserved. This morning, I returned from a meeting with the Turkish parliamentary delegation where very differing views were expressed by the representatives of different parties. When we consider what has happened in so many other countries I believe that we should admire the way in which our Turkish friends have been able to retain parliamentary institutions.