The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-20 00:00:00

TAKING POSSESSION OF CYPRUS.

The Daily Telegraph of Tuesday gives the following
account of the occupation of Cyprus by the British, and
which is sent in a telegram from their Correspondent, under
date Nicosia, July 14 :
- - - • -

. -
In my previous telegram I stated that the Admiral
would come on shore to complete the ceremonial of
the surrender of this island to the British Crown. For
this purpose Lord John Hay arrived here yesterday
from Larnaka accompanied by Captain Rawson and
Lieutenant B. Van Koughnet, of the Minotaur, Lieu-
tenant Eastman, R.M.A., Surgeon Macarthy, and
Captain Riley, with a detachment of 50 Marines.
In accordance with previous arrangements the
Admiral and Staff proceeded straight to the Governor's
residence, while the detachment was sent to the
barracks near the Western gate. A Turkish guard of
honour drawn up in front of the gates of the Govern-
ment House presented arms as Lord John and his
staff approached.
Samih Pacha and the members of the Local Council
were already with the 'Governor and, as on the pre-
ceding occasion, the principal Aiussulman and Chris-
tian notables had been summoned to give their
sanction to the proceedings. Following invariable
custom, coffee was first served round to all present,
and then some of the local authorities opened the
business by expressions of kindly welcome to the
visitors. In answer to these addresses the Admiral
made a brief speech the essential points of which I
will endeavour to reproduce in his own words. He
said:—
" In accordance with a Convention that has been con-
cluded between her Majesty Queen Victoria and the Sultan
and enforced by an Imperial Firman, I am commanded by
her Majesty's Government to occupy the Island of Cyprus
in the name of the Queen, and to assume its temporary
administration until the Governor duly appointed by
her Majesty arrives. I understand that the Imperial
Finnan was read here yesterday in the presence
of the notables, and that you are now prepared
to transfer the administration into my hands. On
my part, I have to request that the Government employes
shall remain in their present offices. Any changes that may
hereafter be found advisable must be left for my successor
to carry out. The police will continue to perform their
duties as heretofore. They will remain under the command
of their present officers, whom I shall hold responsible for
the maintenance of order. I shall requite all taxes and con-
tributions to the Government revenue to be paid into the
public treasury, on behalf of the Queen, and I shall hold
the proper officials responsible for all moneys due to the
Government." . .

This very very plain and business-like address, spoken in
English, was of course not understood by many of
those who heard it, but it was very carefully repeated
in the vernacular in its entirety by Mr. Baring, at
the close of whose translation the Admiral was
assured that it was perfectly understood.
On their part, the notables thanked the Admiral for
his statement, endorsed his observation that they were
fully cognisant of the nature of the Convention con-
cluded by their Government with that of Great
Britian, and tendered him, as the representative of her
Majesty, the assurance of their hearty allegiance.
All this was indoors. A crowd meanwhile had col-
lected outside, and as Lord John Hay and his Staff
emerged on their way to the flagstaff, they were fol-
lowed by as many peop!e as could squeeze themselves
into the narrow thoroughfare. The Marines had been
drawn up in line on the platform on which the flag-
staff is erected, and as the Union Jack was hoisted
they saluted.
"1 take possession of this island in the name of
Queen Victoria," said the Admiral; and as the people
recognised the well-known name of Queen Victoria
they responded lustily in more dialects than one,
"Live the British Queen." The cheers were kept up
for some minutes, and a crowd remained about the
Staff till sunset, when the flag was hauled down.
The apparent ease with which the British Admiral
went through all these formalities particularly im-
pressed the Cypriotes. "One would think," re-
marked a native, "that he had been accustomed to
take possession of new territory all his life."
On Monday morning the British fls.g was hoisted at
Larnaca by Admiral Lord John Hay, who acts as
Governor until the arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley.