Today in History – 11/12 July

Agreement on aid to Turkey

Turkey and the U.S. signed an aid agreement on July 12, 1947. Signed as a result of the Truman Doctrine, the agreement constituted the basis of a series of bilateral agreements to be signed in the ensuing years. The text of the agreement began as follows:

The Government of Turkey, having requested the Government of the United States for assistance which will enable Turkey to strengthen her freedom and independence and at the same time to continue to maintain the stability of her economy;

Bringing certain political obligations to Turkey, the Agreement also limited Turkey’s foreign policy, particularly through Article IV. This article would gain particular importance during the period in which Turkey began to make an intervention in Cyprus in June of 1964.

Article IV: (…) The Government of Turkey will not transfer, without the consent of the Government of the United States, title to or possession of any such article or information nor permit without such consent, the use of any such article, or the use or disclosure of any such information to anyone not an officer, employee, or agent of the Government of Turkey or for any purpose other than that for which the article or information is furnished.