Disturbances (Hansard, 27 April 1955)

§ 16. Mr. Benn
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the recent disturbances in Cyprus.

§ 20. Major Wall
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures are being taken to combat terrorism in the island of Cyprus.

§ 21. Mr. G. Jeger
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement on the acts of violence against British troops in Cyprus.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Since my reply to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) and other hon. Members on 6th April, there have been four attacks on private residences of British Army officers, causing negligible damage and no injury to persons. There has been no further incidence since 9th April. I referred in my reply on 6th April to counter-measures by the Cyprus Government. These have been intensified. Combined military and police patrols have been increased; the number of special constables now exceeds 460 and steps have been taken to improve the security of vulnerable points.

§ Mr. Benn
Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it is the unfailing experience of history that people denied the prospect of freedom will turn to violence? Would the right hon. Gentleman not also agree that we cannot treat a nationalist movement as if it were a sort of crime wave?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
This is one of those responsibilities from which Her Majesty's Government are not, like other people, in a position to try to opt out.

§ Major Wall
Does my right hon. Friend not agree that it is of the utmost importance to preserve the present good relations between the British community and the Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the island, and that therefore it is essential that the terrorists should be caught and punished, as their actions react on all the communities?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I am satisfied that the vast majority of the people in Cyprus deplore this recourse to violence.

§ Mr. Jeger
Does the right hon Gentleman recall that when he made his statement on 6th April he appealed to the Archbishop and other interested parties to deplore and issue statements condemning acts of violence? Has the right hon. Gentleman received information to the effect that they have in fact done so, and, if they have not, is there not really a heavy burden of responsibility on these people who have encouraged this Enosis movement to resort to violence against British troops?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Yes, I think it is a fair comment to make that the Archbishop and others in the Ethnarchy might well express their abhorrence of what has been going on.