SIR, — My unit formed part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade which,
with the paratroops, captured twenty- two of the forty-one most badly 'wanted' Eoka leaders in January, 1957. Few of us had any illusions about the cause of our success—the work done by in- terrogators behind closed doors, breaking down prisoners to make them talk. On one occasion 1 saw some of the results of their work. It was not pretty. 'Squeeze the Cyps till they squeak' was their motto.
Mr. J. W. D. Gray, who saw nothing in his six months in Cyprus, was fortunate. I don't believe anyone who knew the facts could have found that the problem of 'reconciling a liberal conscience with national loyalty' was more important than the 'sadism and incidental brutality' that took place in Cyprus.
'Conscience-stricken liberals' like Mr. Gray should speak to the relatives of the men mentioned in Charles Foley's Island in Revolt who died under interrogation. Then, perhaps, they would understand why your reviewer, and others who have real ex- perience of Cyprus, have 'accepted Foley's case with- out reservation.'
ROBERT SPRINGALL
Wetherby Mansions, Wickham Road. Croydon
[This correspondence is now closed.—Editor, Spectator.]
Previous page
