Sir P. Harmonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the plans which have been devised for the supply and distribution of books of medical, scientific and general interest in Turkey?
§ Mr. EdenThe cultural activities of the British Council in Turkey include the presentation, and the supply for sale, of English books on non-political subjects. This work is carried out as fully as the book shortage and the serious transport difficulties permit. A subsidy enables approved Turkish booksellers to sell English books at reasonable prices, and, in addition, books to the value of £2,000 have been bought by the Council and sent to Turkey for resale. Lending libraries of English books which have been opened in Angora, Istanbul and Smyrna have created an immense demand for books of all types. An English section is being formed in every Halkevi (People's House) in Turkey. Libraries of books on geology, metallurgy and mathematics have been presented to Istanbul University, whose science libraries were recently destroyed by fire, and books have been presented to other faculties and to schools and Government departments. Special attention is given to the supply of books on medicine, science, agriculture and engineering.