Bubble and squeak
Sir: It is obvious that Mr George Lanitis' letter (27 August) that even the press counsellor of Cyprus lacks a sense of humour— as I find do the rest of his countrymen (I'm afraid most of the Cypriots I know are waiters).. The fact that Ezekias Papaioannou turned communist after waiting on the Churchill family was meant to be tonguein-cheek. Not even the Great Fidel I became a roaring revolutionary overnight, despite waiting on Mafia dinner tables in Havana brothels.
But as far as Vassos Lyssarides' auxiliary troops are concerned, Mr Lanitis better not deny their existence whatever name he would like them to go under. The undersigned has had a long and good relationship with their military commander Major Pantazis, and I advise Mr. Lanitis — if he does not hate the English too much to read their language — to study my book The Greek Upheaval.
The auxiliary troops — which were Makarios' personal shock force — may have been devised by the British to fight against EOKA, according to Lanitis. In fact, however, they were instrumental in bringing about the coup against Makarios in 1974 by intimidating, harassing and in general subjecting the Greek officers to indignities, which finally led to the Greek coup against the priest.
Taki Theodoracopulos 3 Dunraven Street, London W1
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