NEW MOVE ON CYPRUS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28020, 14 July 1956, Page 9

NEW MOVE ON CYPRUS

Judge To Draw Up Constitution

(IV.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, July 13. Lord Radcliffe, one of Britain’s leading judges, will leave London for Cyprus today in the first of what the Government hopes will be a series of moves to end terrorist violence on the Mediterranean island colony.

, r " ment , has asked L . ord Radcliffe “to consider the framework of a new liberal constitution” for home rule for the half million Cypriots.

Howe\er, as Lord Radcliffe was preparing to leave, there was little expectation in responsible quarters in London today that he new British plan would succeed in settling the complex problem of the island s future.

Labour Opposition members were critical of the Government s proposals when they were disclosed yesterday.

The House of Commons programme for next week’s business will be adjusted to make time for a debate on Cyprus. Greek Cypriot leaders have already declared their refusal to discuss a settlement without the participation of their acknowledged leader, the exiled Archbishop Makarios. The fact that the plan brings selfdetermination no nearer for the Cypriots is considered to make the plan’s success unlikely. In Athens last night the Greek Prime Minister, Mr Constantine Karamanlis, said: “Sir Anthony Eden’s statement has defined Britain’s policy on Cyprus. “The Greek Government has already defined its own policy. “We are firmly seeking a vindication of Cypriots’ self-determination rights before the United Nations.” In Ankara last night Turkey’s ruling Democratic Party said that the island was part of Turkey. Greece wanted to annex Cyprus, and if the claim was persisted in, Turkey would seek to establish its right to the whole of Western Thrace and to 12 Aegean islands, the party said, in a communique. Cyprus should be restored to Turkey if Britain did not fulfil her duties under the 1878, Agreement by which she acquired Cyprus, or if the status of the island were changed. Any change in today’s status quo in Cyprus could not be permitted in any manner, the Turkish communioue said.

In Cyprus. Nicosia’s Greek Cypriot Mayor. Dr. Themistocles Deris, has called an extraordinary meeting of all Greek Cypriot mayors and deputy mayors of the main towns for Saturday afternoon. No reason for the meeting was eiven, but it is understood to have been called to discuss the British statement. British Press Comment The Government’s plan got a mixed reception in today’s British press. There w*as no firm conviction that Lord Radcliffe would succeed in solving the crisis. One strong undercurrent of editorial opinion was that the Cyprus issue could be solved only on an international level. “The Times” saw the appointment of Lord Radcliffe as a welcome sign that the British Government was trying to move forward. But by itself it could not bring a solution, “The Times” said. The “Manchester Guardian” warned that continued tension over Cyprus would lead to the disintegration of the North Atlantic Treaty in its Eastern Zbne. The “Daily Herald” said that the Prime Minister’s statement wa« “the same mixture of woolly mind and iron fist. The Government has evidently got no new policy at all.” it said. The “Daily Mirror” said: —“This is the policy of the big stick and the invisible carrot. It is clear that only a firm promise of self-determination can ever satisfy the Greek Cypriots now.”

But the “Yorkshire Post” said that Sir Anthony Eden’s procedure was the only possible one. Another newspaper, the “Daily Telegraph,” said that the British Government had returned to a "straightforward policy on Cyprus.”

The “Scotsman” commented: “Selfgovernment is no substitute for enosis. and a solution is likely to come only from international agreement.”