Mr. Dugdale(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has a statement to make on the recent events in Cyprus.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)Yes, Sir. I regret that disturbances occurred over the weekend in the towns of Nicosia and Limassol, in the course of which there was some injury to persons and considerable damage to property.
In the course of a general strike called by Communist and Nationalist trade unions on Saturday, disturbances were started, chiefly in these two towns, by secondary school students, who were shortly joined by hooligans. Acts of violence were committed which led to considerable danger to human life and damage to property.
In Nicosia, where a crowd of about 1,000 demonstrators gathered, large numbers of stones and bottles were thrown at the Police, some damage was done to shops and Government property and one British soldier was slightly injured. The police used batons and tear smoke to disperse the crowds. In Limassol, after a crowd estimated at about 2,000 had attacked the police station, surrounded the Commissioner's house and damaged two hotels, injuring the British owner of one, it was clear that the situation had got beyond the control of the police available.
Military support which had been called to the outskirts of the town was then brought in and three shots were eventually fired, wounding three people, one of whom is on the danger list. A party of about 80 Turkish Cypriots marching to attack Greek Cypriots in Nicosia had to be dispersed with tear smoke.
After the crowds had been dispersed in Nicosia and Limassol, bands of hooligans up to 100 strong were going about doing what damage they could, and some looting was reported. On Sunday, 2437 two large crowds had to be dispersed in Nicosia, but no disturbances were reported from the rest of the island, and none has been reported since.
The Governor broadcast on Sunday evening, asking for support from all responsible Cypriots for the measures to control such demonstrations. In particular, he asked Cypriot parents and school teachers to control the schoolboy demonstrators, who were easy dupes of hooligans seeking to promote disorder. Responsible elements of all communities have already expressed their grief at what had happened and have given assurances that they will use their influence to maintain law and order.
I am continuing to keep in the closest touch with the Governor about the situation and the measures he is taking. His message to me two hours ago is that all is absolutely quiet this morning, and he has been able to lift the ban on meetings which he imposed on Saturday.
Mr. DugdaleIs the right hon. Gentleman really telling us that practically the whole of these riots were caused by school children, and, if that is so, can he say whether adequate preparations were, in fact, made, and in particular whether there was an adequate supply of tear gas at Limassol? It appears that tear gas was used with satisfactory results at Nicosia, but that there were no supplies available at Limassol. Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that we on this side of the House are profoundly disturbed by the Government's handling of the whole Cyprus policy and think that there should be a full public inquiry both into these disturbances and into the handling during the past two years of the whole Cyprus policy by the Government?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question goes, of course, far beyond the terms of the Question he asked, which was about the affairs in Cyprus. I am glad to say that it seems to me that the handling by the Governor and by the authorities of Cyprus could not have been more excellent under the very difficult conditions in which they found themselves. They acted with promptitude and sense, and we have no intention whatsoever of allowing orderly government in any part of the British Commonwealth to be replaced by government of hooligans or by demonstrations of school children.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWhile welcoming the news that all is quiet in Cyprus today, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will now consider the suggestion previously made by myself and by my right hon. Friends and hon. Friends that, when the situation is calm, the best course to adopt in Cyprus would be to call a meeting of representatives of the communities at which the right hon. Gentleman or another Minister should attend in order to discuss the future, because, otherwise, are we not likely from time to time to be faced with these disorders in Cyprus owing to the offer of a Constitution which no one wants? Is it not time to make a fresh approach to see whether we can reach a better understanding?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that one of the difficulties about people coming forward to co-operate in the new Constitution has been the uncertainty of the situation at U.N.O. Now that the General Assembly has approved the Political Committee's recommendation by 50 votes to nil, with eight abstentions, I think the situation is much clearer if or the get-together of all men and women of good will in Cyprus in order to try to work out a worthwhile Constitution. If hon. Members on both sides of the House, who are profoundly anxious to make Cyprus a contented and prosperous part of the British Commonwealth, will again read the statement I made on 28th October, particularly the last paragraph, I believe that there they will see the signs and opportunities for orderly development.
§ Mr. GriffithsAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, in 1948 an offer of a Constitution was made and refused. Recently, the Government have made another offer, which is not quite so liberal. Does not the right hon. Gentleman see, therefore, that so far the offers of Constitutions have not led to a satisfactory conclusion, and will he reconsider the suggestion made that in these circumstances a round-table conference of members of all the communities to consider the future of Cyprus would be desirable?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Governor, in whom the Government have the utmost confidence, has let it be known that he would gladly consult the leading personalities of Cyprus, whether Greek or 2439 Turkish, about the working out of a constitutional settlement. That offer remains open. It is really not fair for the right hon. Gentleman to say that the new Constitution would be less liberal than that offered by the Socialist Government in 1948, because, as yet, there have been no talks which enable us to see what form the Constitution should take. As soon as those talks take place, we may be able together to find something thoroughly worth while. Meanwhile, I think we all express the hope that our relations with Greece may once more resume their traditional closeness and cordiality.
§ Mr. GriffithsDo I gather that if there are discussions they will not be limited to the precise form of the offer of the Constitution which was made some time ago?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Government cannot reopen the question of sovereignty. That has been settled. However, it is quite possible, of course, for a number of important issues to be discussed by the Governor with representatives of the various races who have made Cyprus their home. The question of sovereignty, on which the Government's view has been made quite plain, has, I think, received strong moral backing recently at U.N.O.
§ Major Legge-BourkeWill my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the action taken, involving, I think, a party of Turkish Cypriots, was taken only in the interest of law and order? Will he further say that in the action they took the Governor and the British troops will be fully supported by this House so long as that action was designed to restore law and order so that proper progress can be made with the Cypriot Constitution?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think most hon. Members will agree that the Turkish community, under considerable provocation by broadcasting, has behaved with commendable restraint. I very much hope that it will continue that practice, despite what happened over the weekend.
Mr. McNeilWithout entering into discussion on the question of sovereignty, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will take this opportunity to withdraw his most extraordinary statement? 2440 What the United Nations decided, as they frequently do, was that, under the terms of Article 2 (7) they were not at present entitled to discuss this matter because it was a question of domestic jurisdiction. That was not the United Nations giving any opinion.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAll that I said, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, was that we were entitled to claim strong moral backing for the line we have taken.
Mr. McNeilI must press the right hon. Gentleman on this point. Does he not agree that the United Nations have not given a legal opinion about the present position? The legal position, on the interpretation of the Charter, with which I agree, is that this is a question of domestic jurisdiction. That was not in any way giving any opinion or indication of any moral support in regard to what the future position of Cyprus, or any other territory, might be.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe reasons put forward are shown in the Resolution, which I will not read to the House, because the House already knows it. All I can say is that we are entitled to claim moral backing.
§ Mr. Fenner BrockwayDoes the right hon. Gentleman really think it sufficient to dismiss what has occurred in Cyprus as the action of schoolboys and hooligans? Does it not represent the demand of the great majority of the people of Cyprus for the self-determination which this country has guaranteed in the Atlantic Charter and in many other declarations?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI would not in any way limit the people who have made a noise to school children. The fact that the greater proportion of those arrested in Nicosia were Communists shows where much of the responsibility lies. Here again, not for the first time and, no doubt, not for the last, Communists are prepared to put other people in to do work from which they hope to profit.
§ Mr. F. M. BennettMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether there is any evidence of Greek stimulation of these riots? Have we not a right to expect a friendly Power to use its influence to stop acts of violence which will do no good to anybody whatever solution is reached?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think it is fair to say that the tone of recent Greek broadcasts has helped to create a mental climate in which trouble is possible. I very much hope that, in view of the United Nations' Resolution, our relations will be restored to a happier basis.