„Zypern, die letzte Illusion“, Zeiten von Zypern, 30/9/1957, übersetzt in Kommentaren übersetzt

CYPRUS: “The Last of the Illusions” was the title we used when publishing the following article in the Times of Cyprus. By “illusion” we meant the idea that a country with a population of half a million people could be used as a base for guided missiles without the consent of its inhabitants. NATO bases for bombers have already been established in dozens of countries. Something similar happens with regard to the countries of the eastern bloc, where Public Opinion is ignored.

During the last world war the Cypriots stood on the side of the Allies, both to defend their homeland and to guard the freedom of the whole world. But that should not be taken as a precedent in a third world war, especially given that Cyprus might then become the number-one target of an attack. Nor should we conclude that Cypriots are more unwilling to take risks than the English, the French, the Italians or the Greeks. Far from it. The whole matter, however, must be discussed by a government representative of the people, and not have decisions taken behind the back of the island’s population.

In London efforts are now being made to present Cyprus as the ideal atomic base of the future. In other words, the Cypriots will be asked to help in the role that Great Britain has undertaken within the framework of American aims against the Soviet Union. It is a fact that not many of the English believe this policy can be applied and bear fruit. And the reason is simple. In England, by agreement with the Americans, American bombers that carry atomic weapons can be based there, and the English will certainly be on the side of the Americans in a future war with Russia, even taking an active part in the defence of their country. In Cyprus, however, matters are entirely different. It is possible the island could be captured by the Russians in a post-attack from a future conflict, but that is by no means certain. Or rather, that would happen only if Cyprus were to be used as an atomic base — in which case an attack would be a matter not of days but of hours.

As Lord Attlee has said, “Cyprus would become in such a case a ‘tied lamb’ for Soviet aviation.”

So how could anyone expect the consent of the Cypriots, and not certainly the active participation in the implementation of this suicidal policy? And even if satisfactory assurances and guarantees for security were given, how could we proceed with the campaign of nerve-wracking pressure that the communists would undertake against the entire population of Cyprus? Moreover, at present, unlike what happens with England, Cyprus is not necessary for the American air force. Any of the sparsely inhabited islands of the Aegean could replace our island. For these very reasons we should not count Cyprus as a useful factor in the strategy of an atomic war; we can expect opposing views to be pushed aside by politicians as soon as the appropriate opportunity presents itself.

The Conservatives.

In London, circles of the Conservative Party react to any proposal aimed at restarting negotiations with Makarios; on the one hand there is a feeling of sympathy towards Turkey (“a great ally that must not fall to Communism”) and on the other a sense of unease toward Greece (“damned, we liberated them”) which “supports Grivas.”

There is also a sadly ignorant view of the things the Cypriots desire and should — I must confess — that the present situation in Cyprus is something “the Cypriots themselves sought.” After that, the idea of partition seems to continue to be discussed, with the difference that the opinions of some extremists are bitterly divided on the point whether the Greeks and the Turks of Cyprus should be allowed to implement on their own an idea similar to what happened in Palestine between the Arabs and the Israelis — or whether the English should have to cut the island up before they abandon it. Mr. Lloyd

When the Director of Public Relations, Mr. Storrs, visited London some time ago, he found that the Foreign Office has its own correspondents in Nicosia, whose reports seem to be more objective. Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, however, seems more like a minister of the Macmillan government; he is the one who will decide what he judges most appropriate. The Prime Minister is

Cyprus, unlike what happens with England, is not necessary for the American air force. And any of the sparsely inhabited islands of the Aegean could replace our island. For these exact reasons we should not reckon Cyprus as a factor useful in the strategy of an atomic war; we can expect that opposing opinions will be sidelined by politicians as soon as the appropriate opportunity is presented.

Mr. Lloyd

WHEN the Director of Public Relations Mr. Storrs visited London some time ago, he ascertained that the Foreign Office has its own representatives in Nicosia, whose reports seem to be more objective. Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, however, appears more like a minister of the Macmillan government — he is the one who will decide what he deems most suitable. The Prime Minister is

Nevertheless, I cannot believe that the basic duty of the English to bring a people who are under their sovereignty to a safe haven will not yield fruit and will not triumph in the end.

That the partition of Cyprus would be a crime against History and would give the Russians the opportunity to intervene — that in itself guarantees us that this idea will not be implemented.

We must not forget that there are other powerful factors that could be mobilised. For that matter, however, it would be better not to talk now…