LETTERS TO THE ErirtoR
The Future of Cyprus
Sut,Owing to absence from London I have only today read the article under this title appearing in your issue of November 23rd. Even if I cannot entirely agree with Mr. Franklin in his facts and opinions, I feel that he has written with a wish to be fair, but in many respects he is in error. The fact that the movement for union with Greece is "led by the Archbishop of _Cyprus "does not necessarily imply .that it is " a spiritual one." If this were so, we should have to admit that in Cyprus religious faith burns most brightly in the hearts of Communists and other extreme politicians and not "amongst the peasants." If " business and professional men" had the cburage to say in public what they do in private it would be to agree that the moment is contrary to -the true interests of the island. While no Greek Prime Minister could possibly disavow the Greek claim to Cyprus, I can imagine nothing more embar- rassing to such a Prime Minister thaaltto.liee-offered Cyprus while Greece is in its present condition of political, financial and economic Chaos.
I entirely disagree thatIBritain has neglected Cyprus "until compara- tively recently." It is obviously impossible that the road system, the health services, the forward state of agriculture, the irrigation system. and the rehabilitation of the forests _which now distinguish CypruS from other Eastern Mediterranean co- untrie.s could have been built up in a few years. It is the case that if we had co-operation instead of obstruction in our efforts for the good of Cyprus the islapd could enjoy still greater prosperity and "more could be done."
That there is not "the smallest measure-of self-government" lies at the door of the Church and the local rliticians. Mr. Franklin is evidently not aware that there could be nothing more distasteful to a British Governor than to have to govern Cyprus as these two influences compel him to do. His article entirely smug, I do 'not wish to say suppresses, the fact that in 1946 the British-Government gave Cyprus the opportunity to work out a constitution for the island which would lead ultimately to self-government. :Pie .tDhurch and the Communists combined to bring the offer to naught. The offer, however, has never been withdrawn. The Cypriots cai-avail themselves of it whenever they like. In face of this, how can Mr. Franklin say that Cypriots "have been given no particular encouragement from Government House of the Colonial Office" or apply the adjective " grudging " to the offer ? Efforts to increase the scope of local government in Cyprus have been made since the offer was rejected, and have been brought to naught by the same forces which shipwrecked the offer of a constitution. It would be very interesting to know what Mr. Franklin feels we should do to accelerate "the rate oi economic progress." I wish, in conclusion, to correct two misapprehensions which the remarks of Mr. Franklin—made, I am sere, in all good faith—might give rise to. In view of what I have said, it is completely misleading to imply that the Government is withholding "a large measure of self- government [which] could be- given almost immediately." I have made it clear that it is the Church arid the Communists between them who deprive Cyprus of a constitution. Again, it is misleading to represent the island as economically backward or in any 'way neglected. The economy is essentially agricultural and the-peasant is contented, knowing perfectly well on which side hi 4 bread is buttered. Whatever may be the result of a plebiscite engineered by the Church, there is no sponta- oeous movement in favour of Enosis.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
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