DEMAND IN CYPRUS FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1948, Page 8

DEMAND IN CYPRUS FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT

NICOSIA, August 12 Lord Winster, Governor of Cyprus, dissolved the island’s Consultative Assembly and told it that Britain had withdrawn her offer of a new constitution made in May. Lord Winster blamed seven members of the Assembly, who had voted against consideration of the offer, for Britain’s action. A mass meeting organised by the Left Wing Workers’ Federation, vigorously protested against Lord Winster’s announcement. Labour leaders told the workers to be prepared for a "fighting struggle” for union with Greece, through SelfGovernment. The Federation proclaimed a twenty-four-hour general strike for to-morrow. NO NEGOTIATIONS Lord Winster said the constitutional issue had been, to some extent, obscured by manifestations in favour of self-government. Britain did not intend to change the island’s sovereignty. Any rumours that negotiations were intended between Britain and Greece on the subject were false. The constitution offered ruled that the Legislative could not discuss the island's status within the British Commonwealth and provided for an assembly of 22 elected members and four official members. When Lord Winster left the Assembly, crowds shouted: “We want self-government.”