146. Letter From the British Ambassador in the United States
(Makins) to
Secretary of State Dulles1
Washington, November 21,
1955.
My Dear Secretary Of State: As I expect
Harold Macmillan told you, Her
Majesty’s Government, following on the talks between the Governor and
Archbishop Makarios, have been working on a new formula for the
settlement of the Cyprus question.
The Archbishop has just returned to Cyprus from Athens, and the Governor
is accordingly communicating to him today the text of a formula (of
which I enclose a copy).
I am asked to emphasise the need for absolute secrecy on this matter
until the formula is published by Her Majesty’s Government.
Yours sincerely,
[Enclosure]
Her Majesty’s Government adhere to the principles embodied in the
Charter of the United Nations, the Potomac Charter and the Pacific
Charter, to which they have subscribed. It is not therefore their
position that the principle of self-determination can never be
applicable to Cyprus. It is their position that it is not now a
practical proposition both on account of the present strategic
situation and on account of the consequences on relations between
NATO powers in the Eastern
Mediterranean. They will therefore have to satisfy themselves that
any final solution safeguards the strategic interests of the United
Kingdom and her Allies.
Her Majesty’s Government have offered a wide measure of
self-government now. If the people of Cyprus will participate in the
Constitutional development, it is the intention of Her Majesty’s
Government to work for a solution which will satisfy the wishes of
the people of Cyprus, within the framework of the treaties and
alliances to which the countries concerned in the defence of the
Eastern Mediterranean are parties. Her Majesty’s Government will be
prepared to discuss the future of the island with representatives of
the people of Cyprus when self-government has proved itself a
workable proposition and capable of safeguarding the interests of
all sections of the community.
