The subsequent discussion elicited many protests against this absurd resolve
to place under a Department which has never had the least experience in this kind of administration, the govern- ment of a large island like Cyprus, and Mr. Lowe expressed the strongest conviction that the Colonial Office was the only De- partment which could do the work without adding to its expense. -the Colonial Office is not only fully manned, but almost over- manned, for the purposes of administration of this kind. But
apparently, the characteristic of the new policy is the predominant influence of words in determining it. Turkey has been assured that Cyprus is still to be nominally Turkish territory, and the Cypriotes Turkish subjects, so it cannot be administered by a Department which deals only with Colonies and dependencies where the Queen is supreme. It is held to be better for the Foreign Office to administer it badly, but under the right heading, as a posses- sion of the Sultan, than for the Colonial Office to administer it well, and yet convey to all the world the (substantially true) notion that Cyprus is ours, and that ours it is to remain
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