REQUIEM FOR A NEWSPAPER SIR —it is a pity that Michael
Leapnian did not join the Times of Cyprus three or four years ago. Cer- tainly it 'consistently denounced the ill-conceived obstinacy of the Colonial Office' and rightly, but he is incorrect in the assumption that that was the reason for its unpopularity. In the main this unpopu- laritY was the result of its consistent and ill-conceived attacks upon the British Servicemen.
No one could call the average British soldier, the majority of whom were National Servicemen, die- hard colonials, nor politically can they be ranged alongside the 'white settlers.' The policing of Cyprus was unquestionably one of the most difficult opera- tions the Army has encountered since Palestine. Yet, on the whole, the servicemen performed an ex- tremelY difficult task, generally under the most un- Measant conditions, with very great success, winning not a few friends amongst the local population in e process. To meet attacks from the Greek and the Turkish press was to be expected, but to meet these attacks from a. British newspaper as well was more than enough to bear.
The role of the Army in such circumstances is the preservation of law and order, be it Greek, Turk or Armenian that causes the disturbance. The service- man is thanked by nobody, condemned by all (nor ,.,1‘ the British national press without blame here). Certainly incidents of excessive brutality or damage t_? Property are bound to arise (on both sides). The despoliation of a cemetery in Nicosia was severely condemned, the fact that .a cache of bombs was found in a grave, overlooked; the activities of a certain officer (myself), during the imposition of a Cyprus. in Nicosia, severely attacked in the Times of inH'us. was accused of insulting behaviour, strik- ing a Greek Cypriot lawyer, and of ordering a nu natc ly, to strike prisoners with his rifle. Unfor- perhaps, neither myself nor the NCO was a,nied, and action against the newspaper impossible. i,suc Governor, then Sir John Harding, ordered an report into the case and, without question, had the been been accurate in any respect. 1 would have "een court-martialled. _ The morale of the servicemen employed in trouble 'enrols such as Cyprus is of primary importance. The dud of the Times of Cyprus was that in effect it -.0 nothing but damage to that morale.—Yours faithfully,
D. E. PROVAN
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