Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-22
Britain and Cyprus

DIHuIH 0Hu cyprus
The speech delivered in
Manchester by the leader Of
the powerful British Labor
Party. whereby an early and
just solution to the Cyprus
problem has been offered.
merits great attention and
justified commentator.
Assailing the British gov
eminent for its failure to
reach an agreement and re-
store peace to the strife-torn
Mediterranean island, Mr..
Gaitskill declared: while the
Labor Party had kept silent
during negotiations with the
archbishop, it was their duty
to express disagreement with
the foolish breaking of of the
negotiations, the deportation
of the archbishop and the sub
Sequent policy of repression"
And he went on to say that
Britain could solve the Cyprus
conflict only by reopening
negotiations with the exiled
archbishop or turning over the
problems to NATO. He further
stated that the Cypriots could
be permitted to settle at
later date the question of
Enosis, or union with Greece,
and added: Give self-govern-
ment first hand, then agree on
a later date for a decision on
self-de termination"
Mr.. Gaitskill's position on
the Cyprus issue has not been
dictated by motives designed
to make political capital at
tributable to his capacity as
the opposition leader, but it
is, first a realistic appraisal
of the present miserable situa-
ton, and, secondly, it is an
honest recognition as well as
a reminder of the moral
obligations emanating from
solemn pledges for freedom
given on many occasions by
the British government to the
Cyprus people.
The Cypriots have peren-
nially been sincere and de-
voted friends Of the British
nation and have repeatedly
demonstrated it by deeds.
Can the Conservative gov
ernment's memory fail to such
an extent as to cast into
oblivion the fact that during
the last world war one-tenth
of the islands Greek popula-
ton voluntarily Joined the
British armed forces and
fought calamity in many thea
tiers of war for liberty and
justice" so .assuringly declared
by the allied leaders? Can
the Eden government deny
that the SURPRISES of the
Cyprus budget have always
been at the British govern
ment's disposal, and that
generous contributions were
made by Cypriots toward de-
struction Of the menacing die
tatorship and prevalence of
democracy? Can they forget
that during the war huge pos
tiers, displayed at conspicuous
places. were urging the Cyprus
people to fight for freedom
and for your motherland
Greece?
1t is most regrettable that
the answer to these and other
pertinent questions can only
be found in the oppressive leg
islation enacted by the islands
governor, whose powers parallel
those of a ruler of a totali-
tartan state.
AS to the contention that
Archbishop Makarios' exile
would help stop violence and
establish order and law, the
facts have proved exactly the
opposite. Since Archbishop
Makarios' deportation the I'M
foreground organization has
intensified-and expanded
even in England---its activities,
and reprisals have multiplied.
including the death Of many
innocent British soldiers and
civilians. The deterioration Of
the situation is certainly the
aftermath of a vigorous protest
against the forceful ousting Of
the archbishop. the only elected
representative Of the entire
Greek population Of Cyprus, an
exceedingly popular and re-
vered prelate, endowed with
rare virtues. His outstanding
leadership is unquestionably
indispensable for the resump-
ton Of negotiations and res
toration Of peaceful condi-
tons on Cyprus. Therefore,
If Mr.. Eden and his cabinet
are genuinely DESTROYS Of rec
ognizing the indisputable right
Of every nation to choose the
form Of government it wishes,
they should take appropriate
steps. foremost Of which must
be the return Of Archbishop
Makarios.
Nick q Louis.