§ 40. Mr. S. O. Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that there is widespread anxiety at the condition of the prison in the old fort of Kyrenia, Cyprus; and why representatives of the Press have been refused permission to investigate and report upon it.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo, Sir. Any anxiety which may have existed about conditions there was the result of malicious and unfounded reports by Athens Radio and Greek newspapers which were categorically denied. Permission to visit the castle was granted to two British 378 correspondents. All detainees have, in fact, now been moved from Kyrenia Castle to a detention camp elsewhere in the island.
§ Mr. DaviesWill the right hon. Gentleman tell the House why he was compelled to remove prisoners from the Kyrenia fort if it were not that the fort was totally unfit for prisoners?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat is not so. One of the reasons was that Kyrenia Castle is required, I understand, for the billeting of troops. If the hon. Gentleman would read the article written by a correspondent who was in Kyrenia Castle recently, which appeared in the Manchester Guardian, he will see that one of the headings is:
Where troops envy the detainees.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIn view of the desire of all hon. Members to see a peaceful settlement in Cyprus, and on the understanding that conversations and discussions are still taking place, would the right hon. Gentleman consider the suggestion which I ventured to make on Monday that the leaders of the Cypriot people should join with the Governor and others in making a general appeal for the end of violence so that the discussions may, we hope, proceed to a final settlement?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI know that the right hon. Gentleman shares our common interest that this should be brought to an end at an early date. Naturally, anything done by the leaders of Cypriot opinion, particularly by the Ethnarchy, to condemn violence, would play a very considerable part in improving the situation.