§ 27. Mr. Donnerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the payment of moneys to the funds of A.K.E.L. by firms in Cyprus as protection against Communist-promoted strikes and arson; and what steps he proposes to restore confidence in law and order and to remove the need for such measures by individuals to safeguard business premises.
Mr. Creech JonesMy information is that, while some firms in Cyprus have paid money into the funds of A.K.E.L. under threat of trade boycott, there is no evidence that such payments have been extorted as protection against strikes or arson and that of recent weeks even threats of trade boycott have been largely abandoned. With regard to the second part of the Question, I do not consider that the position I have described calls for special measures.