HC Deb 25 June 1957 vol 572 cc21-3
34. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to make a statement on a resumption of talks on the future of Cyprus; and with whom negotiations are to be conducted.

37. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the present position regarding his proposals for negotiations over the future of Cyprus.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. John Profumo)

I cannot usefully add to the explanation of Her Majesty's Government's position on this matter, given in the reply sent to Archbishop Markarios' letter of 28th May, the full text of which is in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 3rd June.

Mr. Awbery

As the Prime Minister has stated that he is not prepared to negotiate with Archbishop Makarios, will the Under-Secretary tell us with whom the Prime Minister is prepared to negotiate? We have made friends with people who have been accused of committing greater crimes than those of which Makarios has been accused. Will the Government now not only turn over a new leaf, but get a new book?

Mr. Profumo

Her Majesty's Government have made the position perfectly clear and it is not exactly as the hon. Member has put it. What we have said is that we are not prepared to enter into bilateral negotiations with Archbishop Makarios.

Mr. Grimond

While acknowledging that minorities in Cyprus must obviously be brought into negotiations, do not Her Majesty's Government realise that the tempo of these exchanges is decreasing the chances of successful negotiations? In the long run they must be carried out, and one party to them will have to be Archbishop Makarios. Have the Government no proposals for reopening negotiations?

Mr. Profumo

So far Archbishop Makarios has laid down unacceptable conditions for discussions. If he withdraws those, that will be a different matter.

Sir T. Moore

In any case, can my hon. Friend give any reason why this religious leader, Makarios, should be regarded as the political leader of Cyprus and the only person with whom we can carry on political negotiations?

Mr. Profumo

The responsibility for the present hold-up rests as heavily on Archbishop Makarios as on any other individual or authority.

Mr. Callaghan

Does not the Under-Secretary realise that the words in my hon. Friend's Question are words to which the Government gave their assent at the United Nations last December? What steps are the Government taking to effect a resumption of negotiations? How much longer will we be fobbed off with statements which attribute intractability to the Archbishop—which may well be true but behind which the Government themselves are sheltering?

Mr. Profumo

The hon. Member cannot get away with that. It is not fair—[HON. MEMBERS: "It is true."] It is not true and I cannot accept what the hon. Member says. Her Majesty's Government have taken very active steps indeed. We have proposed a constitution for Cyprus. We have relaxed the Emergency Regulations. We have released Archbishop Makarios. We have agreed to accept the good offices of N.A.T.O. So far I can see, no step in any way comparable has been taken by the Archbishop.

Mr. Callaghan

Further to that last answer, whatever the Under-Secretary may say, is not it the case that a duty rests upon Her Majesty's Government to call together all the elements whom they think are proper if the constitution they want to see operating in Cyprus is to be brought into effect? I am asking the Under-Secretary the simple question—when does he propose to carry out the undertaking which the Government gave to the United Nations when they assented to the resolution that they would enter into a resumption of negotiations so that some constitutional progress for the future of Cyprus could be made?

Mr. Profumo

I can only repeat what I have said; we are not prepared to invite Archbishop Makarios for bilateral negotiations, which is his present proposal.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Rankin.

Mr. Rankin

Question No. 35.

Mr. Profumo

rose—

Mr. Callaghan

Internal squabbles in the Tory Party.

Mr. Rankin

On a point of order. I cannot hear a word the Under-Secretary is saying.

Mr. Speaker

I was finding it very difficult to hear a word myself.

Mr. Profumo

Internal squabbles on the hon. Member's side.

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