CYPRUS

HC Deb 17 July 1974 vol 877 cc446-51

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. James Callaghan)

I apologise to the House for once again having to make a statement about the situation in Cyprus.

Archbishop Makarios arrived in this country this morning, having spent the night in Malta. I understand that he is in good health and that it is his intention to go on to New York tomorrow to address the Security Council. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is seeing him at present and I shall be seeing the Archbishop myself later this afternoon.

In response to a request from the Turkish Government that they should consult with Her Majesty's Government under the terms of Article 4 of the Treaty of Guarantee—a request to which I immediately agreed yesterday—the Turkish Prime Minister and the Turkish Acting Foreign Minister are arriving in this country later today.

The Prime Minister and I will be holding consultations with them this evening. In these talks we will be considering questions concerning our rights and obligations under the Treaty of Guarantee. We shall hope to co-ordinate our views on what action should now be taken to deal with the situation in Cyprus.

We shall also be seeking the views of the Turkish Prime Minister on the question of consultations with the Greek Government.

The Greek Government bear a heavy responsibility for the situation in the island. Under the Treaty of Guarantee they are firmly committeed to respect the independence of the Republic and to assist in the maintenance of stability in the region. It is the duty of the Greek Government to avoid any threat to the independence of Cyprus. Her Majesty's Government are still awaiting the substantive response of the Greek Government to their advice that the officers of the Greek National Guard in Cyprus should be replaced at the earliest possible moment.

My information is that the situation in Cyprus is calmer and that fighting has died down. I have not received any reports that British subjects have suffered any loss or injury. As far as we know, the civil airport at Nicosia, though still closed, is serviceable.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

The right hon. Gentleman does not need to apologise for making a statement about a matter which potentially could still be very dangerous. I am glad that he is taking the opportunity to consult the Turkish Prime Minister and that they are to meet in this country. I have no doubt that our Ambassador is very much in touch with the Greek Government. It is important that in all these matters we should keep in consultation because, as the Foreign Secretary said, they have a heavy responsibility. I have no further questions to put to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Callaghan

Yes, Sir, the Ambassador in Athens is doing his best to ensure that we get a full and substantive reply from the Greek Government. There has already been a meeting today. I hope to get a reply and, if I do, I shall communicate it to the House.

Mr. Mendelson

Will my right hon. Friend accept that there will be widespread support for the Government's attitude, for the way in which he has advanced the right subjects at the right time and for the way in which our Services co-operated in securing the life of the President of Cyprus?

Now that the Security Council is seized of this matter, will my right hon. Friend consider the possibility that a request may be made by the President of Cyprus for the status quo to be restored. As my right hon. Friend told the House in an earlier statement, the evidence had to be collected. Is it not clearly emerging that the coup was organised by the Greek military Government from the mainland and that there is a good case for Her Majesty's Government supporting a policy through the Security Council aimed at restoring in Cyprus the status quo ante?

Mr. Callaghan

I am obliged to my hon. Friend, and I am sure the whole House would like to know that Archbishop Makarios on arriving in this country this morning expressed his gratitude to the British Forces in Cyprus for their assistance. As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's remarks, I think we should await our conversations today with Archbishop Makarios and with the Turkish Prime Minister before deciding what final action we take in respect of a draft resolution for the Security Council. Archbishop Makarios, as I have already said, intends to go to New York. I have no doubt that it would be in the best interests of stability in the Middle East—and, moreover, would restore the legal position—if Archbishop Makarios was recognised and returned to the island in his full capacity and with his full powers.

Mr. Maurice Macmillan

While recognising, as the Foreign Secretary said, that Archbishop Makarios is still President of the Republic of Cyprus, I should like to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has made any reference to the Greek Government, not in the way suggested as being partially responsible for the situation but as one of the guarantors and signatories of the Treaty of Guarantee? If the Greek Government, together with the United Kingdom and the Government of Turkey, are responsible under Article 4 of the treaty, in the event of there being little response from the Greek Government when can the second part of Article 4 be fulfilled—namely, common or concerted action not having proved possible?

Mr. Callaghan

Yes, Sir, the representations which are being made by our Ambassador in Athens are related to the Treaty of Guarantee. The attention of the Greek Government has been drawn not only to Article 4 but to one or two of the other articles. I would prefer not to go further on the action we should take until we have concluded our discussions with those principally concerned, who are arriving tonight. I wish to re-emphasise what I have already said. It is our desire to co-ordinate our policy and actions with the Turkish Government as well as take account of any references which Archbishop Makarios wants to make to the Security Council.

Mr. Dalyell

When my right hon. Friend meets the Turkish Prime Minister, will he show his extreme reluctance to commit the British Army, because if there have to be forces involved many of us would like to see a United Nations commitment? Is it not a fact that one Ireland at a time is enough for the British Army?

Mr. Callaghan

My hon. Friend is looking a little far ahead. There is already a United Nations force in Cyprus.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Does the last part of the Foreign Secretary's statement in which he said that the situation is calmer mean that Mr. Sampson is now in control of the island? Secondly, if this is so, bearing in mind the other questions put by the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Mendelson)—and I understand the Foreign Secretary's reluctance to commit himself—what forces does Mr. Sampson have at his disposal?

Mr. Callaghan

I think it is true to say that, if our reports are correct, the police who were supporting Archbishop Makarios are not fighting to the extent they were yesterday. The main forces under Mr. Sampson's control are, I think, the National Guard, which is officered by Greek officers and has about 10,000 men in its ranks. I am not able to say to what extent they have approved of what has been done.

Sir Geoffrey de Freitas

Apart from our independent treaty obligation and the United Nations, is my right hon. Friend aware that those of us who are firmly in support of NATO are much discouraged that from the outset the North Atlantic Council was not used to discuss this Greek aggression on an independent member of the Commonwealth?

Mr. Callaghan

Yes, Sir, there have been a number of channels in which this matter might have been discussed. The Nine members of the Community are making a formal démarche this afternoon to the Greek Government, which I hope will meet with the approval of the whole House. As regards the North Atlantic Treaty, the truth is that the position of Greece at present does not strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty but weakens it.

Sir Frederic Bennett

Is the Foreign Secretary aware that we are all anxious to see President Makarios restored and all agreements under the treaty observed? I hope he will agree that there has been a marked lack of observance of certain treaty provisions so far as the Turkish minority are concerned. I hope that in his conversations he will discuss the future.

Mr. Callaghan

Yes, Sir. The continuation of intercommunal talks in an attempt to settle the problem is vital. But I would not want to assume at the moment that that could be done very quickly.

Mr. Whitehead

Reverting to the North Atlantic Treaty, does my right hon. Friend have any information from the Greek Government as to why they alone were unable to sign the joint NATO statement on Cyprus this afternoon? Has he any information from our diplomatic representatives in Nicosia about the safety of British subjects? Is he aware that many of us have constituents who have been trapped by the fighting? What arrangements will be made to assist them in coming out?

Mr. Callaghan

On the first part of my hon. Friend's question, I have no information. As to the second part of his question, contingency plans have been made. The Foreign Office is in touch with the travel organisations to put them into effect if necessary, and other plans exist in the event of trouble flaring up which meant that Nicosia airport remained closed.

Mr. Townsend

In view of the reports about a certain amount of harassment of United Nations troops, to the best of the right hon. Gentleman's knowledge have any British personnel been so harassed?

Mr. Callaghan

I cannot give a clear answer to that. I have not received any information to that effect. I think that I would have done if it had happened.

Mr. Faulds

Can my right hon. Friend clarify the situation a little, because this is very important? Some of us are a little in the dark about this. Under the Treaty of Guarantee, do our military men in Cyprus have the right, or indeed the duty, to sally forth from the sovereign base to help either the United Nations or the local Cypriot authorities to restore order and legitimacy in that sad country?

Mr. Callaghan

No, Sir. The sovereign base area is different. The Treaty of Guarantee provides that if there is a breach of the provisions Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom shall consult together with respect to the representations or measures necessary to ensure the observance of those provisions. We are having that consultation today.