A Spectator's Notebook I CANNOT help thinking that Sir John
Harding was unwise to issue his statement about the allegations of brutality which have been made against British forces in Cyprus.
Last week the Colonial Under- Secretary said that Sir John was 'naturally con- cerned to clear beyond all reasonable doubt or suspicion the good name of the Cyprus police force and the security forces and has informed the Secretary of State that he is giving considera- tion to how this might be done.' As it is abundantly obvious that an ex pane and polemical statement of the case by the Cyprus Government is not only not the best but just about the worst way of Clearing the good name of the security forces, it is very doubtful if that is the real object of the statement. Whatever the object, the statement itself is inept. To anyone who knows the facts Of the case of Maria Lambrou the account of it given here will seem remarkably disingenuous. The statement goes on to say that the Cyprus government 'is and has been prepared to enquire into all allegations made to it and to expose and Prosecute in cases of maltreatment. . . . If indeed this was not so, one would have expected to find S, large number of private prosecutions being Instituted against' individuals. In fact one would have expected no such thing. Since November, nS6, it has been impossible to bring such a prosecution without leave of the Attorney- General; and when a complaint is made, it is forwarded to the Special Branch of the police for their investigation—the very same people, of course, against whom the complaint has been made. If the Cyprus Government really wants to Clear the name of the security forces, it should setup a public inquiry.
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