The Cyprus Bases
THE Cabinet is considering its answer to the proposals put forward by the Greek Cypriots about the future of British bases in Cyprus. The past record of British governments does not sug- gest that.the answer will necessarily he acceptable, or even conciliatory. A lesson which British governments have been taught many times, but have still to show that they have begun to learn, is that military bases have no value unless the people who have-to work in and around them are content to accept their existence. .
The Government has tended to take the line that the Cyprus bases are British as of right— carrying the implication that if the Cypriots will not concede this, then the land around the areas, in which the baes are established will have to be cordoned off. and employees flown in from abroad to man them: No doubt such a settlement could theoretically be imposed on Cyprus; but it would simply guarantee permanent hostility to- wards Britain, which would be more dangerous
than having no bases there at all. • The sensible solution, which we have long urged, would be to turn the lot over to NATO—in which case a settlement would present no difficulties: the Cypriots want the bases, and they want the employment they will provide. If the Government feels it cannot do this, at least let it have the courage to forgo paper 'rights' of sovereignty, and agree to put the establishments on much the same footing as American bases are here. There is nothing to stop us doing this, except pride.
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