Mr. Michael Pissas

HC Deb 15 May 1958 vol 588 cc589-90

15. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been received by the Government of Cyprus from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions about the release of Cypriots detained without trial, the return to the island of the Secretary General of the Cyprus trade unions, and the resumption of negotiations with Archbishop Makarios; and what response has been made to these representations.

2. Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent by the Governor of Cyprus to the appeal sent to him by the General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions to give favourable consideration to the request by Michael Pissas, the exiled General Secretary of the Cyprus Workers' Confederation, for permission to return to Cyprus to resume his trade union duties.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Governor received a letter from the General Secretary of the I.C.F.T.U., asking that Mr. Pissas be allowed to return to Cyprus, and a letter from Mr. Chiakoulas of the I.C.F.T.U. making the same request, and also asking for the release of all political detainees and the suspension of the Emergency Regulations.

The Governor replied that he regretted he could not agree to meet these requests in view of the continued violence in the island and the failure of Mr. Pissas to abstain from political activity, despite his undertaking to do so. The Governor undertook, however, to keep the case of Mr. Pissas under review in the light of developments in Cyprus.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Secretary of State aware that this international trade union organisation represents a very powerful opinion all over the world and that very sympathetic attention should be paid to its views? Is it a proper way of trying to lay the basis for a negotiated settlement in Cyprus to exclude important leaders of the workers in Cyprus who have been put in a responsible position in the trade unions of the island?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The more important the organisation the greater the obligation on its officers to keep their word, and this man flagrantly broke his word both in Athens and in Brussels.