Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-20
British Press
Cyprus Plan
Over Critics

NICoSIA. cyprus. June 20
R.-Turkish cypriot leaders
have rejected Britain's partner
ship plan for governing this
embattled island. The Turkish
government agreed 10 talk
about II and the Greek Cypriots
awaited word from Athens to-
day.
A Greek government source
said Premier Constantine Kara
manlis' cabinet definitely would
reject the plan. which calls for
the Greek and Turkish gov
ernments 10 Join Britain In gov
erning the island. The NATO
allies we're putting strong pres
sure on Greece at least TO Join
In discussions and Britain
planned 10 90 ahead with the
plan In any event.
Archbishop Makarios. exiled
leader Of the Greek Cypriot
movement to unite the island
with Greece, conferred I'M
Athens with Cypriot mayors. He
said he would send his views on
the plan TO the British today.
$4,000 Troops Wait
Thirty thousand British
troops waited tensely to put
down any new violence growing
out Of the three-nation tug Of |
war which threatens the Medi-
terranean. anchor of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization. |
Rioting between Greek and
Turkish Cypriots has cost nj
lives this month.
The last week has been COM
paratively quiet. but today a
25-year-old Turkish Cypriot was
critically wounded in the
crowded market place at Limas-
sol.
A crowd Of Turk Cypriots
gathered after the shooting. !
and four Greek Cypriots were |
stoned. The British clamped
a rigid curfew on the city and |
rushed in large numbers Of |
troops.
Although the Turks sent a
note rejecting the plan as such,
they agreed to negotiate on it |
and attend any conference |
with Britain and Greece. Ear
lier Turk Cypriot leader Raul |
Denktash said the plan did not |
set up safeguards to keep the
island from uniting with
Greece and I'VE are not in
terested." The Turkish mi
nority wants Cyprus parti-
toned.
bNNCh- car ran
The new British plan calls
for participation by the Greek
and Turkish government in the
control Of Cyprus for the next
seven years and partitioning
the island legislature although
not the island itself.
1t gives a measure OF self
government to the Cypriot
people while Britain, In con-
sultation with Greece and
Turkey, retains control of de-
tense. internal security and
foreign affairs. The islanders
could choose Greek or Turkish
citizenship in addition to the
British citizenship they now
hold.
The Greek and Turk Cyp.
riots would have separate
houses Of representatives for
their community affairs, now
controlled by the British. The
Greek and Turkish govern
ments would be represented in
an upper council headed by
the British governor.
II this adventure in part
nership." as Prime Minister
described It in the
House Of Commons yesterday,
works out well after seven
years, all three nations would
share sovereignty over Cyprus.
The plan was envisioned as
a compromise Of the British,
Greek and Turkish demands
for the islands future: Cd
insistence on strate-
gic bases in the Eastern Medi-
terranean on Cyprus; ~ the
Greek Cypriot majority's de-
mand for independence to pave
the way for union with Greece;
and 80 the Turkish Cypriots'
demand for partition Of the
3, 752-square-mile island to
protect their rights against the
Greek majority.
Gov. Sir Hugh Foot said
Britain will leave the details
open for future discussions but
is going ahead with the plan
for governing the islands
100000 Greeks and 100000
Turks no matter what they
say. He is presumed to be the
plans chief author.
Gov. Foot told newsmen that
If one group refuses to Join the
new government, the other still
could participate.
The Governor announced the
plan over the island radio just
before the nightly curfew was
clamped down to prevent dem
onstrationS.
|