A Case for Caution
The question of Cyprus has two distinct aspects which ought, not to be confused: it is a painful quarrel between Britain and Greece, and it is a dispute about the application of democratic concepts,' like self-determination and progress towards free institutions, to the people of Cyprus. When the Greek' sponsored item on Cyprus came before the United Nations political committee on Tuesday, Mr. Munro of New Zealand showed that it was a territorial claim rather than the defense of Cypriot self-determination which its terms implied. Even' tually, Mr. Kyrou put the Greek case in so moderate a manful as to leave the feeling that the failure to settle the matter diplomatically reflected no great credit on either of the tO friendly antagonists. The third party, the Cypriots themselves; have in the meantime been allowed to become the heroes 0` on anti-colonial movement, encouraged by Communists evert where but, in Cyprus, feeding on emotions which are anythil0 that but Communist. This state of affairs ought never to has, arisen, but now that it has arisen Britain's first duty is see at her forces committed to the Cyprus base are secure',` This means doing everything possible to avoid unnecessari friction in Cyprus.
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