§ 41. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions he has imposed on the correspondence of Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus; how long his mail takes in transit between Mahé and Cyprus and the United Kingdom; where and by whom examination of his mail is conducted; and whether he is allowed to read newspapers and other publications.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydInward and outward mail is examined in Cyprus by the Cyprus Government. The normal mail takes between two to four weeks in transit. The answer to the last part of the Question is: Yes, Sir.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill the right hon. Gentleman say, first, what the purposes of these restrictions are, and second, will he give an assurance that the Archbishop's mail with people in this country and, in particular, with Members of this House will not be interfered with?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe purpose of the restrictions is that the Archbishop—who. were he not Archbishop, would be detained in Cyprus rather than in the Seychelles, and be subject to the same controls—shall not, through the medium of letters and through the mail, carry on his propaganda campaign or issue instructions to his followers. I do not believe that Members of Parliament who wish, or expect, to receive letters from him would themselves wish to be exempt from the ordinary rules in the case.
§ 42. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many rooms are available at "Sans Souci" villa at Mahé to Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus; how many servants attend him; how many persons are responsible for guarding him, and what are their ranks; and what protest has been made by His Beatitude about the conditions in which he is detained.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe house has a sitting room, three bedrooms and a verandah. There are four servants. There is a police guard of non-commissioned officers and constables commanded by two assistant superintendents of Police. The last part of the question was covered by my replies to the hon. Member on the 13th June and to the hon. and learned 1428 Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 6th June.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWith great respect, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the last part of the Question was not covered? Is he aware that the Archbishop went on hunger strike, with his colleagues, for three days because of the unsatisfactory conditions; and would he not agree that, whatever the wisdom or otherwise of departing these people, it really is folly not to make them as comfortable as possible while they are in deportation?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think they certainly are as comfortable as possible, and since the Archbishop offered his parole, which was accepted, things have been made easier still.
§ Mr. SmithersIf there are any funds available for comforts, may they, please, be devoted to our troops in Cyprus?