THREATS IN CYPRUS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27705, 8 July 1955, Page 11

THREATS IN CYPRUS

War Of Leaflets Continues

FAMAGUSTA (Cypruj), July 7. Two new underground societies—©ne Greek Cypriot and the other Turkish—joined the leaflet war today. Leaflets typewritten in Greek and signed “E.M.A.” warned Britons “to leave Cyprus now if you wish to save your lives.”

At the same time a two-page pamphlet in English and signed “Kitemu” was distributed, claiming to speak for the Turkish section of the population. It called upon Britain “to goverrf this island and stamp out enosis (union with Greece) or move out, so that the island can be returned to Turkey.’’ In the House of Commons in London the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs (Mr Henry Hopkinson) said that there had been 39 bomb or gun attacks in Cyprus since June 20. Two persons had been killed and 21 injured in the attacks. In that time there had been 30 arrests. He was replying to a Labour member of Parliament’s question. He said he regretted that neither the Archbishon nor other leaders of the Greek community in Cyprus had yet publicly condemned these acts of violence. Another Labour member asked whether the Colonial Secretary would state the number of Cypriots who had been arrested for acts of violence against the British Occupation Forces, the number found guilty and sentenced to punishment, and the number still awaiting trial: A written reply said: “Four Cypriots were arrested in connexion with acts of violence against British military' forces “Nene of them were proceeded against because of lack of evidence, and they have all been released.” Comment in U.S. A Washington message savs that the! Washington ’•Post’’ said today that it: was altogether unlikely that Britain was prepared to accept the extreme ■ demands of Cypriots for enosis (union! with Greece). The newspaper, commenting on the British invitation to Greece and Tur-' key to consult on matters of commonl defence, said that some effort to solve, the problem of Cyprus seemed to be in the making. “It is altogether unlikely that the! British are prepared to accept the ex-■ treme demands of the Cypriots, and relinquish control of the island in ex- : change for some agreement with Athens on military bases there.’’ the “Post” said. “It is also unlikely that the Turks would consent to any such arrangement.’’ The “Post” said that Greece had never seriously pretended any historical or legal claim to Cyprus, which had not been under Greek rule for more than 890 years. “At the same time it must be said that the British Administration, by its bland indifference to the sensibilities ©f the Cypriots and its unwillingness to allow them any effective degree of self-government and political expression. has estranged a considerable part ©f the native population.’’