Sm,—Your timely leading article on Cyprus ignores the Communist danger,
which is very
real. Up to three years ago AKEL, the local Communist Party, was opposed to enosis. There was the customary Cominform somer- sault. There were the usual purges. In view of the proscription of Communism in Greece, the enthusiasm for enosis with a land which would
place them in concentration camps would appear strange. But in its global context, which alone makes sense of Cominform directives, the chance of simultaneously sabotaging the new Middle East base, creating strife between NATO countries and disrupting the Balkan Pact, are promising by-products of their activity.
Meanwhile the Red-dominated trade unions with their 20,000 politically indoctri- nated members dwarf the Archbishop's 2,000- strong nationalist unions. Anti-British and anti-West propaganda is being disseminated among those working in the new Army camps who are 'Red' union affiliated.
Three of the largest towns, which comprise the leading ports, have Communist mayors. The technically excellent Communist daily newspaper, which alone carries a world coverage of news, has a circulation in Greece among the Communist underground move- ment. There is little doubt that the Commu- nists form the best organised and most disci- plined group on the island. Few workers have read Marx and a minority are conscious of their leaders' motives, which are the estab- lishment of a Red strongpoint on the island for action in Greece. Meanwhile they operate as a Trojan horse.
To the Communists, agitation for enosis is a means of preparing for a new Greek' civil war. For they seek enosis not with Athens— but Moscow. They know that even if the Archbishop and his friends had their way, the writ of Athens could not run 500 miles. They are preparing for that emergency.--Yours faithfully,
HAROLD SOREF 123 Beaufort Mansions, Beaufort Street, Chelsea, SW3