§ MR. YOXALL (Nottingham, W.)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is able to give any information as to the causes of the delay in electing a prelate to fill the vacant Archbishopric of Cyprus; and whether His Majesty's Government are able to report the results of the friendly intervention of the High Commissioner of Cyprus, with a view of terminating the interregnum which has already existed for eight years in connection with the vacant see.
(Answered by Colonel Seely.) The delay in electing an Archbishop of Cyprus has been caused by the inability of the Holy Synod, with which the arrangements for the election have usually rested, to agree upon the method of procedure. It has been the object of the High Commissioner, under the instructions of His Majesty's Government, to abstain as far as possible from intervention in this ecclesiastical dispute; but, in order to bring to an end a condition of things which is fraught with danger to the good order and prosperity of the island, it has been decided that the Government of Cyprus should give its support to a Bill which is being prepared by the Greek elected members of the legislative council providing for the election of an archbishop in accordance with the ancient customs of the Church of Cyprus.