301. Telegram From the Embassy in Cyprus to the Department of State0
341. This afternoon Acting British High Commissioner and I together had separate talks with Makarios and Kutchuk. We each stressed deep concern of our two govts re recent incidents. We made points suggested by Washington and London1 emphasizing situation was being followed with close attention because of threat to Cypriots and our own countrymen alike. We especially hoped that Makarios and Kutchuk would find immediate ways of calming situation.
By chance we saw Kutchuk first and found him extremely pessimistic. Both he and Muftizadhe described recent developments as new steps in Greek Cypriot plan to alter Constitution and treaties. Kutchuk said Greek Cypriot police had for some time been harassing Turk Cypriots at night and that Greek Cypriot Minister of Interior had been irresolute and biased in his reporting to Makarios and in his handling of events. Kutchuk said he had persuaded Makarios to issue joint call for [Page 593] moderation and restraint and to make joint visit to scene of one altercation. He had also suggested quick setting-up of commission of inquiry which will be considered by Ministerial Council tomorrow morning. Kutchuk said he would continue to urge moderation and restraint but was uncertain how long he could control his people in face of continual Greek Cypriot provocation.
Makarios was serious and objective stressing that facts re various incidents were incomplete, contradictory and exaggerated and it seemed to him incidents were isolated and unconnected although he admitted some of minor developments might have been retaliatory.
Minister of Interior had been asked to ascertain facts soonest and to instruct Greek Cypriot police to restrict themselves to outskirts of Turk Cypriot areas and not to act in provocative way. Makarios said he had agreed with Kutchuk on desirability of joint Greek/Turk Cypriot police patrols and commission of inquiry. There might be some legal question in way of establishment of commission but he favored it and would urge it in Council tomorrow.
Makarios hoped that measures along foregoing lines would be helpful in bringing down tension and restoring peace.
Makarios also added that because of high state of tension he would not now move forward as quickly with his plans for constitutional change. I took this reference to mean that he would slow up carrying out plan for changing Constitution which he outlined by memo last June and to which he has alluded from time to time in subsequent conversations. I said it seemed to us preferable to work out solutions with Turk Cypriots through discussions and that it still seemed to me that changes could be effected within framework of Constitution. Makarios doubted, however, it would be possible to move forward in this way as interpretations or understandings of constitutional provisions would not, he believed, be sufficiently binding.
Renewed clashes broke out this evening as I finished drafting preceding account of conversations with Makarios and Kutchuk. These reports are fragmentary but seem to indicate grenade and gunfire in several areas. Further message will follow as soon as we have clear information.2 We have no reports any Americans are endangered. All were asked yesterday to stay out of crowded areas and remain quietly at home.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 25 Cyp. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Ankara, Athens, and London.↩
- In telegram 247 to Nicosia, December 21, the Department of State informed the Embassy of the British desire for a joint representation to Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders with the aim of restraining both the police and Turkish rioters in the aftermath of violent clashes between members of the two communities that resulted in five deaths. The Department of State instructed Wilkins to coordinate his demarche with the British High Commissioner. (Ibid.)↩
- Wilkins reported on subsequent developments in telegram 342, December 23. (Ibid., POL 25 Cyp)↩