HC Deb 27 July 1955 vol 544 cc161-3W
114. Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a "Voice of the Fatherland" programme broadcast to Cyprus on 18th July by Athens Radio, alleging that the Cyprus Government use Hitlerite, Gestapo and Schutz-Staffel methods, maintain concentration camps, and might even resort to a system of hostages and mass executions; and what protests he has made to the Greek Government which is responsible for these transmissions.

Mr. Turton

Yes. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Athens has again been instructed to protest to the Greek Government about this and other recent broadcasts of a malicious and insulting nature which are incompatible with that Government's professed desire for an improvement of relations with the United Kingdom. In addition, the Greek Ambassador in London was told on 19th July that these broadcasts have made a deplorable impression and are hampering efforts to settle differences with regard to Cyprus.

Major Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has now been an improvement in the tone of Athens Radio broadcasts to Cyprus.

Mr. Turton

For a short period following Her Majesty's Government's invitation to the Greek and Turkish Governments to attend a conference in London, there was an improvement, and Athens Radio temporarily stopped broadcasting incitements to violence. But there has since been again a marked deterioration in the tone and substance of these broadcasts. Some have glorified the recent acts of terrorism in Cyprus. Others have impugned the good faith of Her Majesty's Government in issuing their invitation to the conference.

The following are relevant extracts from remarks by the commentators of Athens Radio:

  1. (a) "The London Conference on the Cyprus issue might be held in August. With this invitation they (the British) were hoping for a mitigation of the struggle in Cyprus so that they might gain time and manage to set up and organise with greater ease columns of terrorist bodies for the imposition of order in Cyprus. In fact they have already started doing this. … The invitation to Turkey indeed is worthy of the traditions of British craftiness because by means of this invitation it has immediately placed Greece in a difficult position in regard to world public opinion. (Commentary by the "Cypriot Writer" on 7th July.)
  2. (b) "The Cypriots reveal that the British conquerors do not differ from the most relentless and totalitarian dynast and conqueror in methods, tactics or roughness. … The British have abolished the inviolability of the home. They invade the homes of the Cypriots at any hour. They beat, curse, affront, detain, humiliate, and shout against the Cypriot terrorists. They shout in order to cover their own guilt." (Commentary by Kyriakos Karamanos on 17th July.)
  3. (c) "The British have converted the expression of terrorism to a science. They cannot call us, the Cypriots, terrorists. Only the various conquerors of Cyprus have indulged in terrorist activities on the island. Today, the Lords and the Sirs of foggy 163 London are terrorising Cyprus. As for the Cypriots, they fight and resist, they fight against the conquerors, terrorism, against slavery. They fall for their liberty. Being free and civilised people we hate and despise the force and terrorism exercised by the various conquerors." (Commentary by Kyriakos Karamanos of 17th July.)
  4. (d) "The British Colonial Administration of Cyprus has cast off the mask. What we were saying days ago has now become absolutely clear, namely that the British Administration calls the Cypriot patriots terrorists in order to create a smoke screen and start its own terrorism against the liberation struggle. The British Colonial Office and the Foreign Office too, have studied Hitler's methods both the diplomatic and the police methods. And in the case of Cyprus they are skilfully applying both methods. …" "We see concentration camps and innumerable camps of the Khaidari type and the system of hostages might also be applied, and even mass executions might be carried out. The British are preparing to suppress the voice of the Cypriots by means of steel and fire. …" (Commentary by Anthony Andonakakis on 18th July.)