GREEK REJECTION OF CYPRUS PLAN

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28157, 21 December 1956, Page 13

GREEK REJECTION OF CYPRUS PLAN

“No Basis Offered For Solution”

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 1130 p.m.) LONDON, December 20. The Greek Government last night rejected Britain’s constitutional proposals for Cyprus, saying that they offered no basis for a solution. The Greek Foreign Minister, Mr Averoff, said in Athens that the proposals, prepared by Lord Radcliffe, would mean the continuation of colonial status for Cyprus and they contained no provision for self-determination. However, in Istanbul, sources close to the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Turkey generally welcomed the proposals but had some objections concerning the treatment of Cypriot Turks as a minority.

Among the proposals, published in London yesterday, was a recommendation for a single-chamber Legislative Assembly of six members elected by Cypriot Turkish voters, 24 by the rest of the population and six nominated by the Governor. The assembly’s autonomy would not extend to defence, external affairs and public security, which would be reserved for the Governor. The British Colonial Secretary, Mi Lennox-Boyd, told the House of Commons yesterday that when the time for self-determination came, the partition of Cyprus between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations must be included among the eventual options.

Mr Averoff also criticised the fact that there was no mention in the pro-

posals of either releasing the exiled Archbishop Makarios or granting a general amnesty in Cyprus. These were basic elements of any solution, he said. Mr Lennox-Boyd’s references to partition had created fresh and more complicated problems instead of simplifying the issue, the Greek Minister commented. In Nicosia, the Cypriot Turkish leader, Dr. Kutchuk, said he would await guidance from the Turkish Government before making known his community’s views on the proposals. SOVIET ARMY UNREST Concern Felt On Morale

(Rec. 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Authentic evidence of the Russian High Command’s concern over the morale of Russian troops in Hungary has reached Vienna, according to the "Daily Telegraph” today. It is contained in the first numbers to be smuggled to the West of an official Russian-language army newspaper specially printed for the Russian garrison in Hungary. It appears to be a daily and is thought to be prepared somewhere in the Ukraine not far from the Hungarian border. That the Russian authorities go to this trouble when they are known to be having difficulty in supplying even basic rations to their 250,000 men in Hungary shows the high value placed on propaganda. The tone of the paper is as significant as its existence.

One number appeals urgently to the soldiers not to believe the whispered stories of “Hungarian reactionaries and Western agents” that the Hungarian working class is fighting against the Russian Army and that the whole Hungarian people are hostile to it.

A series of “interviews” with Hungarian workers follow, with resolutions said to have been passed by factories and national undertakings. In all of them the Russian Army is thanked for its intervention to suppress the counter-revolution. The paper also contains the first Russian admission of cases of desertion and disaffection. Two papers printed last month refer to the execution of Russian officers and men. N.S.W. Bushfire Under Control (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY. Dec. 20. Bushfires, which early today threatened Sydney’s outer suburbs after burning through hundreds oi square miles, were brought under control this afternoon.

PROPOSAL ON CYPRUS

Radcliffe Plan Presented

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. Proposals for a liberal constitution for Cyprus, presented to Parliament today, offer Cyprus a large measure of self-government but with control of external affairs, defence and internal security remaining in the hands of the island’s British Governor.

The proposals, made by Lord Radcliffe, the eminent British jurist appointed last July to draw up a liberal constitution, would give Cyprus a mainly elected Legislative Assembly which would be virtually certain of having a Greek-Cypriot majority.

There would be important safeguards for the rights and representation of the island’s important Turkish minority.

Apart from defence, external affairs and internal security, all other functions of government, subject to certain reservations, would be controlled by a Chief Minister and a Cabinet. These would be drawn from the Legislative Assembly, whose 30 elected members would specifically include six Turkish-Cypriots. Cyprus, where a terrorist campaign is backing Greek Cypriot demands for union with Greece, has a population of about 500,000. of whom 400.000 are Greek Cypriots and 100,000 Turkish Cypriots. The report presented by Lord Radcliffe emphasises that it does not cover the question of the island's ultimate future. The Greek Cypriots in their Union-with-Greece campaign have been demanding full self-determination. In a covering note to his report. Lord Radcliffe states that it is not assumed that the proposed constitution could come into effect in present conditions of terrorism. Lord Radcliffe states that the constitution assumes conditions in which it would be ‘ possible to declare that the present emergency has come to an end.” Lord Radcliffe’s terms of reference from the Government on September 13 required him to draw up a literal constitution with minority safeguards subject to the retention of reserved powers for external affairs, defence and internal security by the British Government or the Cyprus Governor. Laws affecting currency, the Royal prerogative, the position of Government stock and the constitution and power of the legislature would be reserved for “the signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure,” according to the new proposals. The Chief Minister would be selected by the Governor as the person who appeared to him to command the largest measure of general support in the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister would recommend to the Governor the other Ministers. but the Governor would himself choose the Minister for TurkishCypriot Affairs, who would be guaranteed a place in the Cabinet. The Governor would preside over a joint council to co-ordinate the actions of his side and those of the selfgoverning side. The Chief Minister, another Minister recommended by him, the Minister for Turkish-Cypriot Affairs, and representatives of the Governor would sit on this council.

Greek Charge On Cyprus

(Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 19. Greece today accused Britain of violating “all fundamental human rights and relative principles of international law in Cyprus.” The accusation was made in a Note to Mr Hammarskjold. the United . Nations Secretary-General, from Mr Christian Palamas, the Greek Permanent Representative. With it he sent a series of documents which he said contained full evidence, of continuing violations by the British authorities and forces of these rights. Mr Palamas said that in informing the United Nations of the state of affairs in Cyprus. Greece hoped that all freedom-loving peoples would show their active interest and solidarity and deal properly with the question.

Won Lottery and Bonus.—A Taree district dairy farmer has won a £25.000 block of modern flats in the Queensland resort of Surfers’ Paradise, a new sports car—and a further £5OOO for selling himself the winning ticket in a lottery. The farmer is Mr R. C. Blanch, of Wherrol Flat.—Sydney. December 20.