HC Deb 13 June 1956 vol 554 cc575-7
33. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a Statement on his talks with the Governor of Cyprus.

20. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet in a position to publish a constitution or other concrete proposals which Her Majesty's Government is willing to offer to the Ethnarchy or to Archbishop Makarios or to any representative Cypriot as a basis for the settlement or the negotiation for a settlement of the dispute in Cyprus.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The talks which my colleagues and I have been having with Sir John Harding have covered the whole range of major questions involved in Cyprus policy. When these discussions have been completed, I shall make a statement.

Mr. Donnelly

Is the Colonial Secretary aware that Field Marshal Harding has been reported in the Press as saying that he could not recommend negotiations with Archbishop Makarios again? Is he aware of the dangers of such firm statements being made? Will he make it clear that the policy of the Government is not to make any commitment as to with whom they will or will not negotiate at this stage?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I think that one must pay very considerable regard to the fact that Field Marshal Sir John Harding has had more dealings with Archbishop Makarios than anybody in this House and many people outside it. I think it would be very unfortunate if any attempt were made to blame the Field Marshal for any statement that he makes, considering how ready he has shown himself to meet as many people as possible during the period of his official visit here.

Mr. Bevan

Field Marshal Sir John Harding cannot, of course, be blamed for what appears in the public Press, but would it not be undesirable that a servant of the Crown should make any statement concerning the conditions under which negotiations with anybody could be resumed?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Sir John Harding has had more experience of the difficulty of dealing with Archbishop Makarios than anybody else. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."] Personally, I strongly share the field marshal's scepticism as to the value of such talks.

Mr. Bevan

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question? The question is: is it not undesirable that a servant of the Crown, who must carry out the policy of the Government, should make any statement about the conditions under which negotiations could be resumed, or with whom they could be resumed? If he does, is it not obvious that if we have any departure which contradicts that statement, he would have to be removed?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have no conflict or quarrel of any kind with anything that the field marshal has said or done either here or in Cyprus.

Mr. J. Griffiths

As the right hon. Gentleman has promised that he will make a statement when the talks are over, may I ask him whether the discussions about the policy for Cyprus are being conducted on the basis that, whenever negotiations are reopened, they wil not be reopened with Archbishop Makarios?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I think that the right hon. Gentleman, with his own experience of these difficult matters, would agree with me that it would be wise to wait until I make my full statement.

Mr. R. Bell

Was not the newspaper report a purported report of a meeting at which Sir John Harding met hon. Members?

Mr. Griffiths

May I press the Secretary of State on this matter? Are we to understand that at this moment the Government do not rule out re-opening negotiations with Archbishop Makarios?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am not prepared to make any interim comment of any kind upon this matter.

Back to