HC Deb 08 December 1954 vol 535 cc933-4
7. Mr. G. Longden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, in spite of the protests made by Her Majesty's Government to the Greek Government, the Athens radio continues to make subversive broadcasts to Cyprus and what further action he proposes to take.

Sir Anthony Eden

Yes, Sir. I am arranging for a translated extract of these broadcasts to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Athens has again protested to the Greek Government against this hostile propaganda, and has received an assurance that offensive matter will not in future be included in the broadcasts. The position is being carefully watched.

Mr. Longden

While welcoming my right hon. Friend's reply, may I ask whether he does not think that the time has now come when the contents of these broadcasts, branding, as they do, Cypriots who co-operate with us in the working of the new Constitution, and denouncing them as traitors, should be made known to a wider public even than this House? What are the Government doing to counter the effects of these broadcasts in Cyprus and to give the Cypriots the classical warning against reliance on Greeks bearing gifts?

Sir A. Eden

I am bound to say that some of this propaganda, certainly the language accusing those who, after all, are working with a fellow N.A.T.O. Power, of being traitors, is something which should not be followed by any so-called friendly Government. As to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I understand that the radio station in Cyprus is putting out its own messages. Perhaps my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary can give my hon. Friend more information about that.

Following is the translated extract from a broadcast by Athens Radio on 16th November, 1954: Another form of sheer hypocrisy on the part of the present British rulers is in that their weightiest argument has been that if Cyprus were given to Greece she would run the risk of falling into the hands of the Communists. Yet, today, except for a few well-known traitors, they can find no Greek who is prepared to co-operate with them for the new Constitution, and are spending lavishly to buy the co-operation of certain Communists to this end. Greek Cypriots, be very careful. Stigmatise relentlessly all the renegades. Whoever cooperates in any way in the imposition of the Constitution on Cyprus, and not for the freedom of Cyprus, is unworthy of the name of Greek. He is but a traitor to his country. People of Cyprus, the British cannot impose a Constitution, because to implement it they need traitors, and except for five or 10 stigmatised renegades, they cannot find any.