Evening star., 1955-10-02
Cyprus Needed
To Keep Peoce,
British, Insist
By GERALD WARMG

NICOSIA, Cyprus ears thai
peace ii the Levapt would be rup-
tured IL Cyprus became posses-
sion Of Greece are being used 70
justify Britain's denial Of the pop
ilar demand in this eastern Medi-
terranean island for union with
Mother Greece.
II British forces left Cyprus pre-
paratory to turning this Crown
colony over to Greece, Turkish
troops from the mainland 40 miles
away would seize Cyprus, British
military authorities here assert.
Such action might provoke war
between Greece and Turkey. and
would certainly wreck co-opera-
ton between those two countries
Ia the North Atlantic Treaty Or
ganization.
That the British are not about 70
leave Cyprus was evidenced l9te
last week by new conferences on
flaw and ORDER between the civil
and military authorities Of the
strife ridden colony.
The Turks. II Is pointed out,
have both an historical claim on
Cyprus and q strategie interest IN
II. The Turks held Cyprus for
more than 800 years, until 1878,
when the Sultan leased It to the
British. Turkish stizerainty COM
tinued until 1914.
Cyprus would outhank the main
Turkish defenses in the eastern
Mediterranean If it were held. say.
BY q Communist power--Whicll
Greece could become as result Of
3 Communist coup. The Turks, not
eager to risk being caught Ia Red
pincers, with Russians to the north
and Greeks to the south. want the
British to remain in Cyprus, Bfit-
ish sources here report.
They also assert that without
the smoderating influence Of
British forces here, the Israeli.
Arab war might fiare anew. de-
stroying the uneasy peace the
United Nations has maintained be-
tween jew and Arab for the last
seven years.
Prestige Would Collapse
suppose we were forced out of
Cyprus" said Col. J. NJ White.
spokesman for the British Middle
East Command here. British
prestige would collapse in the MD.
die East. It would have q propa-
ganda effect throughout Asia.
Israel and the Arab states would
make deals with the Russians. be-
cause they'd be the only strong
power left IN this part Of the
world, and our air routes to the
Far East might be blocked" !"
The Greek Cypriots. who make
up so per cent Of this islands $40
900 people. brush aside all British
arguments against their demand
that they be allowed to vote Cyprus
into political union with Greece.
Their leaders. like Archbishop
Makarios III OF the Orthodox
Church 0f Cyprus. are not military
strategists. Nor do they seem par-
ticularIy concerned with the ecO-
nOmic aspects OF the situation. In
an interview with the archbishop.
i asked whether he thought union
with Greece, ur aenOsis. as the
Cypriots can It. would benefit the
island economically.
sOur endeagor is not for the
amelioration Of economic condf-
tons he replied. when Cypriots
are given the right to decide their
own political future, they win take
the economic factor into considera-
ton.
Economics Ignored
However, while ostensibiy the
people here are agitating for the
right Of self determination. actually
they have long since decided for
reasons mainly emotional that they
will vote for union with Greece. It
seems extremely doubtful that the
economies Of enosis would get much
consideration.
The argument that under Britt
isin rule we are better on Is not oIl0
which can be seriously used, Arch
bishop Makarios said. On the
basis of that argument. richer ma
tions should always govern poorer
ones he said with laugh. In
such case. ! think America should
govern all others. including the
United Kingdom"
Even the British admit they have
done relatively little economically
for Cyprus in the past. Until Brit
ish forces were ousted from Egypt,
this colony was an lnimportant
baclwater of empire. Practically
no British capital is invested here.
Agriculture is the main basis Of
the economy. and is carried on
in much the same way as it has
been for centuries. Handicrafts are
important, and complement the
tourist industry. Mining Is the
-principal other economic activity.
Last year the island produced $l1
million worth Of copper extracted
from mines developed with AIlner-
lean capital at Morphou, on the
west coast: STA million worth of
iron, $2.2 million Of asbestos and
small quantities Of chrome and
gypsum.
Bio British Spending
The British claim that the
I. Islands economic position is bound
to deteriorate" II Cyprus becomes
part OF Greece seems to be based
mainly on the fact that then the
natives would not benefit from very
large military expenditures by Brit-
ain. According to Col. White, the
British are committed to spend at
least $1l2 million on military works
in the 10 years ending in 1868. In
addition, 1t is estimated that local
purchases Of supplies and the per-
sonal spending OF British troops
stationed here will amount TO an-
other S8.4 millions q year which
4 win continue after the capital pro-
!. 4. ...s..- u..A.- a