Last Monday a very well-known Turkish editor, Mr AE Yalman, now aged 72 years, was sent to jail for republishing in his paper a strongly critical American article on Turkey, written by the publisher of the Indianapolis Star. The article was held by the government of Mr Menderes to “belittle” the Turkish prime minister, which is a criminal offence under the Turkish Press Law. Mr Yalman, who is unwell, will join others in jail who also printed this American article and he is only one among many Turkish journalists who have suffered under the press law introduced by the Menderes government in 1954.
During the past century the Turks have made repeated efforts to break free from old traditions of despotic government. Mr Menderes himself came to power, 10 years ago, as the result of a promise to liberalise Turkey, as Mustafa Kemal had modernised it. But some of his actions have been a direct contradiction of that promise. Unless the Turkish government releases the journalists and alters its illiberal laws, it must expect the hostility of journalists throughout the free world.
Talking point
The Royal Navy ends its 19-month vigil over fishing vessels off Iceland tomorrow night, and Mr John Hare, minister of agriculture, goes to Geneva this week to try to ensure that the Navy does not have to return. At the UN Conference on the law of the sea, Britain will urge representatives of nearly 90 nations to accept a new international law – that territorial waters shall be recognised as six miles wide and coastal states shall also govern fishing in a further six-mile zone.
Britain wants new law on fishing zones - Observer news story
Key quote
“Every man has the right to a Saturday night bath.”
United States senator (and future president) Lyndon Johnson
