TALKS ON CYPRUS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28660, 9 August 1958, Page 13

TALKS ON CYPRUS

U.K. And Greek Premiers Meet

ATHENS, August 8. The British and Greek Prime Ministers: Mr Macmillan and Mr Karamanlis, today began their urgent talks • on the Cyprus question.

They met this morning with the Governor of Cyprus (Sir Hugh Foot),,the Greek Foreign Minister (Mr Evangelos Averoff), and other high officials from both countries.

Usually reliable sources said this discussion was exploratory and had “set the stage” for more substantial talks at a second meeting tonight. Mr Macmillan will later visit Ankara for talk’s with the Turkish Prime' Minister (Mr Menderes)

Arriving for the talks last night. Mr Macmillan said: “I trust that our talks here may bring peace and hope to all people of Cyprus and made it a symbol of the peace we long for in the world.”

Mr Macmillan took the’initiative and suggested the, talks in telegrams to the Greek and Turkish Premiers during a lull in the violence in Cyprus. But Mr Karamanlis, it was officially revealed last night, said in a message to Mr Macmillan that the talks could not be held on the basis of the British “partnership” plan for Cyprus, which both Greece and Turkey have rejected.

Mr Karamanlis’s message pointed out that he had agreed to the visit in spite of the fact that the meeting had not been prepared "through diplomatic channels.

Mr Karamanlis told reporters at Athens Airport last night he was hopeful about the talks, bu? Greek diplomatic circles said the meeting had . been hastily prepared and that no spectacular outcome could be expected.