Office of the Historian

782.11/5–2450: Telegram

President Truman to the President of the Turkish Republic (Bayar)1

Washington, May 24, 1950—3 p. m.

I wish to express to Your Excellency my sincere congratulations on the occasion of your election as President of the Turkish Republic.2

That the Turkish people, through their newly elected representatives in the National Assembly, have bestowed upon you this highest of honors is indeed recognition of the significant role that you have long played in furthering the cause of democratic development in [Page 1264] your country. Turkey has shown the world yet another evidence not only of its attachment to this cause, but of its inner strength and fundamental stability which has won it such a respected place within the family of democratic nations.

I am looking forward with confidence to the continuance of the very friendly and close relations which now exist between the peoples and governments of our two countries.3

Harry S. Truman
  1. This telegram was drafted by C. Robert Moore, Officer in Charge of Turkish Affairs, Department of State, on May 22, approved by the President, and returned to the Department on May 24 for appropriate transmittal. The text was sent by Department’s telegram 239, May 24, to Ankara, 782.11/5–2450, not printed, and it was released by the Anatolian news agency for publication by Ankara morning newspapers on May 27 (telegram 273, May 27, from Ankara, 782.11/5–2750, not printed).↩
  2. See footnote 4, supra. ↩
  3. In reply to a letter of July 20 from President Bayar announcing his election, a letter of December 4 from President Truman read in part as follows: “I cordially reciprocate the sentiments you express for the continuance of the friendly relations existing between the United States and Turkey, and I assure Your Excellency of my best wishes for your personal welfare and for the prosperity of the Republic over which you have been called to preside. Your Good Friend, Harry S. Truman.” (Enclosure to instruction 36, December 12, to Ankara, 711.11–TR/10–1650, not printed; transmitted by the Embassy in Turkey to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 4, 1951.)↩