§ 29. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the exiled general secretary of the Cyprus Workers' Federation has recently been unanimously re-elected for a three-year period by its members; and if he will now reconsider the decision to exclude him from the island.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe answer to the first part of the question is "Yes". As regards the second part, I have nothing to add to the last sentence of my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) on 15th May and to paragraph 4, sub-paragraph IX, of Her Majesty's Government's statement of policy which was published on 19th June.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs this not a policy of futility? Whatever may have happened in the past, is it not now clear that, if Her Majesty's Government wish to reduce tension in Cyprus and prepare a basis for negotiation, it would be best to have the democratically elected leaders of the Cypriot people on the island itself? Since the trade unionists of Cyprus have now reaffirmed their faith in this particular person, is it not wholly unreasonable to continue to exclude him from his habitation?
§ Mr. ProfumoI cannot agree with that. I do not think there is any reason for this particular man to be treated in any way differently from others in the 1571 same circumstances. If the hon. Gentleman will look at Her Majesty's Government's statement of policy, he will find that this is covered, and, I think, very fairly covered.