British Ambassador Noel Charles and Turkey’s Agenda (1949-1951)

Authors : Betül BATIR

Pages : 56-76

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Publication Date : 2020-06-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Noel Charles’ three-year service in Turkey as the British ambassador in the time period between 1949 and 1951, when Turkey’s domestic and foreign policy were active and changeable, is discussed within the scope of Turkey’s agenda at that time. The events in which Noel Charles took part and became actively involved have been determined in the light of Turkey’s political-military, cultural-social and commercial agenda based on the press and archival resources of the period. On the basis of the foreign relations, Turkey`s campaign for NATO membership and British government’s desire to maintain its existence in the Middle East as a powerful state prompted the rapprochement between Britain and Turkey in this period. The fact that that Soviet Russia was a common enemy and the United States was a common ally can be considered as one of the main factors in this rapprochement. In our study, the amicable relations established between Britain and Turkey in the time period between 1949 and 1951 are addressed, and it is aimed to present Noel Charles’ perspective of Turkey, his special travels in Turkey, personal point of view and feelings through the available data. The relations between Turkey and Britain during a-three-year working period of an ambassador have been reviewed within a limited frame.
Keywords : Noel Charles, Turkey, Britian, the Middle East, NATO