A Spectator's Notebook
IT IS ATTRACTIVELY modest of Mr. Selwyn Lloyd to think Mr. Menderes is the best Foreign Secretary we have, but Mr. Menderes's previous spell of office was not encouraging. For the events of the last few weeks —Sir Hugh Foot's prolonged stay in London and then his return to Nicosia without being able to make a statement on the island's future, and the Government's submission of its policy to Turkey for approval—are merely a melancholy repetition of what happened eighteen months ago. In the summer of 1956 Sir John Harding came back to England for consultations about a new policy for the island. We were en- couraged to believe that he was going to announce a new constitution; instead, after prolonging his stay in London he returned to Cyprus and was unable to proclaim anything since the British plan was being submitted to Mr. Menderes for his approval, and Mr. Menderes did not approve. This time, however, the Government must an- nounce something, and unless, in spite of Turkish opposition, it announces its support of the Foot plan (which is presumably self-government for ten or fifteen years and then self-determination) Eoka will soon be off again.
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