Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Soviet Union, Eastern Mediterranean, Volume XXIV

163. Message From Foreign Secretary Lloyd to Secretary of State Dulles¹

London, undated.

We have decided that we must make a statement of our position on Cyprus in the House of Commons early next week. This will almost certainly be on March 5.²

I know how anxious you were lest a statement on Cyprus should prejudice the Greek elections.³ These are now over and despite the most earnest efforts on our part, including a visit by the Colonial Secretary to Cyprus,⁴ there are evidently still difficulties in the way of full agreement between the Archbishop and ourselves, though until the Colonial Secretary has returned and been able to report in person, we cannot tell just how wide the gap still is.

In all the circumstances we cannot delay further before making our position public. Parliament is deeply interested in this question and has shown great forbearance. They should not be kept in the dark longer than is absolutely necessary especially since there have been many leaks from the Greek side. The correspondence with the Archbishop, which we intend to publish in full with the Archbishop’s agreement, will show the extent of common ground as well as the remaining differences. It may thus be expected to reassure the moderates in Cyprus and so strengthen the Archbishop against the extremists. I am also mindful of the positions of the Greek and Turkish Governments both of whom have their internal difficulties.

Our objective remains of course to reach agreement with the communities in Cyprus. Meanwhile I think our statement will have the advantage of clearing the atmosphere and I hope it will be beneficial not least in making apparent the sincerity of our position.

I am indeed grateful for the assistance you have given us in this long and difficult negotiation. I was especially grateful for your support over the important amnesty question.

1. Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204, UK Corres. with Secy. Dulles/Herter 7/54 thru 3/57, vol. I Incoming. Transmitted under cover of a note from Makins to Dulles, March 1.
2. The text of this statement is in Documents (R.I.I.A.) for 1956, pp. 686–687.
3. See footnote 2, infra.
4. Colonial Secretary Lennox-Boyd visited Cyprus February 26–29. For text of his statement to Makarios on February 29, see Documents (R.I.I.A.) for 1956, pp. 687–688.