VIOLENCE ON CYPRUS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27637, 19 April 1955, Page 13

VIOLENCE ON CYPRUS

Greek Reply To Britain (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) ATHENS, April 17. A Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman today expressed astonishment at a British Foreign Office statement which called the Government-con-trolled radio Athens broadcasts to Cyprus “objectionable.” The Foreign Office claimed recently that “the incitements to violence” in some Radio Athens broadcasts could not be dissociated from the outbreak of terrorism in Cyprus. The Greek spokesman today said that Radio Athens in its broadcasts followed certain principles which, without ignoring the important factor of British and Greek friendship, fell within certain internationally accepted limits.

Failure to recognise such limits meant a denial of freedom of information.

On Cyprus itself, leaflets threatening the “shedding of British blood in Cyprus” if Britain refuses to agree to the union of Cyprus with Greece were thrown during a Greek Church service in Nicosia.

They were showered on the heads of candle-holding worshippers streaming from Nicosia’s biggest Greek church during the most impressive part of midnight Mass. The leaflets were signed by Eoka—a secret organisation suspected to be linked with the recent bomb explosions in Cyprus. Charge Against Government

Typed in Greek, the leaflets accused the Governor of Cyprus (Sir Robert Armitage), of “using Hitler methods” and of forcing Cypriot Government officials to join the emergency constabulary being formed for night patrols.

Then from the other end of the churchyard came another shower of leaflets, signed “Eoka Youth.” These stated: “We are not afraid of prisons or danger. Great deeds imply great danger. We swear we shall hoist the Greek flag over a free Cyprus.’’ The leaflet raids were accompanied by the sound of exploding fireworks. The police had ordered that because of the bomb-throwing earlier this month the traditional fireworks would not be permitted in churchyards this year.