Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-21
Cyprus Issue

Your editorials are gener-
ally characterized by profound
reflections, unbiased views,
and constructive suggestions.
Yet, on certain subjects you
appear rather evasive and
uncommitted.
Cyprus is surely one Of the
most explosive situations Of
our time and of paramount
interest to the Western world,
for which other eminent pub
locations Of the country have
taken a positive stand and
strongly urged our Govern
ment for prompt action.
In your editorial "Cypriot
Straitjacket." after describing
the recent developments, re-
garding the Cyprus issue, you
conclude by acknowledging the
Importance of the problem and
stating that efforts must go
on to resolve the ISSUE" but
neither on this occasion nor
in the past has your paper
offered concrete suggestions
for remedying the present
dangerous situation.
1t is indeed astounding to
hear that the Turkish minor
ity on Cyprus objects to pro-
portional representation and
brings forth a variety of
unjustified arguments, which
have ostensibly blocked solu-
ton Of the problem. as there
is no evidence in the history
of mankind whereby the 20
per cent population ruled the
entire country.
However, in view of the fact
that the relations of Greeks
and Turks on Cyprus have
always been cordial, and that
the two elements have for
many years been living peace
fully in the same communities,
mingling socially, politically,
and economically, there is no
doubt that the recent rift in
their friendship is the result
of skillful propaganda on the
part of the British govern
nient, which has resorted to
the familiar technique of "di-
vide and rule" in order to
prolong a political system
colonialism-buried long ago
in the conscience of humanity.
Soviet leaders, who are now
jubilant over the strained re-
lationS Of Greece and Turkey,
could not find a better ally
than Mr.. Eden for the promo
ton Of their sinister plans
aiming at disunity of the
democratic camp and ultimate
collapse of NATO.
The closing sentence Of your
commentary remarks: 1.-THE
prospects for agreement soon
are not good, but the need is
great"
Meanwhile certain questions
should be asked: How long
will the merciless bloodshed
and determination of human
beings in Cyprus last? How
long will the islands governor
continue to use Nazilike meth
DDS by arresting on mere
suspicion and without trial,
OBTAINING in dark, suffocating
concentration camps-like the
Kyrenia castle-hundreds of
peaceful citizens, whose only
crime is exactly the same as
that of the founding fathers
Of this great nation Of ours,
i.e., an ineradicable yearning
for freedom and independence?
How much longer will the inn
prisonment and whipping Of
schoolboys Of the age of 1914
take place? How long will the
Eden government continue to
dispatch to Cyprus the cream
of the British army to be
sacrificed in a needless and
foolish war between people
who fought side by side for the
same ideals in every interna-
tional conflict? And, finally,
how long will the allied ma
tons remain unmoved OBJ
servers Of this tragedy and
hesitate to lend an ear to the
desperate plight Of a people
claiming nothing more than
their inherent human and
political rights?
Undiscriminate violence is
Of course condemnable, but
Sir John Harding's powers and
the ruthless exercise thereof
constitute a stigma on the
goth century's civilization.
Although your editorial
speaks of an impasse of the
Cyprus question. we see no
great obstacles in its solu-
ton, if our Government. as
leader Of the free world, takes
the initiative and. as a tenn
porary expedient. pending
naturalization OF the interna-
tional atmosphere. treats the
problem as a NATO concern,
by inviting all members to