Britain and the Cyprus problem at the United Nations, 1954-58

Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History

Volumn 28, Issue 3, 2000, Pages 113-130

  Johnson, Edward ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0034257650     PISSN: 03086534     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/03086530008583101     Document Type: Article

References (87)

1. J. Reddaway, Burdened with Cyprus: The British Connection (London, 1986), 9.
2. See G. S. Georghallides, Cyprus and the Governorship of Sir Ronald Storrs: The Causes of the 1931 Crisis (Nicosia, 1985).
3. For a full account of this meeting, see E. Averoff-Tossizza, Lost Opportunities: The Cyprus Question, 1950-1963 (New Rochelle NY, 1986), 25-6.
4. Hansard, H. C. Deb., 525 (15 March 1954), 8.
5. S. G. Xydis, Cyprus: Conflict and Conciliation, 1954-58 (Columbus, 1967), 9.
6. See N. Crawshaw, The Cyprus Revolt (London, 1978); R. Holland, Britain and the Revolt in Cyprus 1954-1959 (Oxford, 1998); G. H. Kelling, Countdown to Rebellion: British Policy in Cyprus 1939-1955 (London, 1990); I. D. Stefanidis, Isle of Discord: Nationalism, Imperialism and the Making of the Cyprus Problem (New York, 1999), and E. Hatzivassiliou, Britain and the International Status of Cyprus 1955-59 (Minneapolis, 1997).
7. See N. Crawshaw, The Cyprus Revolt (London, 1978); R. Holland, Britain and the Revolt in Cyprus 1954-1959 (Oxford, 1998); G. H. Kelling, Countdown to Rebellion: British Policy in Cyprus 1939-1955 (London, 1990); I. D. Stefanidis, Isle of Discord: Nationalism, Imperialism and the Making of the Cyprus Problem (New York, 1999), and E. Hatzivassiliou, Britain and the International Status of Cyprus 1955-59 (Minneapolis, 1997).
8. See N. Crawshaw, The Cyprus Revolt (London, 1978); R. Holland, Britain and the Revolt in Cyprus 1954-1959 (Oxford, 1998); G. H. Kelling, Countdown to Rebellion: British Policy in Cyprus 1939-1955 (London, 1990); I. D. Stefanidis, Isle of Discord: Nationalism, Imperialism and the Making of the Cyprus Problem (New York, 1999), and E. Hatzivassiliou, Britain and the International Status of Cyprus 1955-59 (Minneapolis, 1997).
9. See N. Crawshaw, The Cyprus Revolt (London, 1978); R. Holland, Britain and the Revolt in Cyprus 1954-1959 (Oxford, 1998); G. H. Kelling, Countdown to Rebellion: British Policy in Cyprus 1939-1955 (London, 1990); I. D. Stefanidis, Isle of Discord: Nationalism, Imperialism and the Making of the Cyprus Problem (New York, 1999), and E. Hatzivassiliou, Britain and the International Status of Cyprus 1955-59 (Minneapolis, 1997).
10. See N. Crawshaw, The Cyprus Revolt (London, 1978); R. Holland, Britain and the Revolt in Cyprus 1954-1959 (Oxford, 1998); G. H. Kelling, Countdown to Rebellion: British Policy in Cyprus 1939-1955 (London, 1990); I. D. Stefanidis, Isle of Discord: Nationalism, Imperialism and the Making of the Cyprus Problem (New York, 1999), and E. Hatzivassiliou, Britain and the International Status of Cyprus 1955-59 (Minneapolis, 1997).
11. CP(52)232, 8 July 1952, CAB 129/53.
12. See the note by the Colonial Office, July 1959, summarizing British policy during the 1950s on withdrawal from the UN Fourth Committee, FO 371/145265/UN 1513/3.
13. INTEL 140, 'Cyprus', 25 June 1954, CO 926/180.
14. COS(54)303, 'Strategic Importance of Cyprus', 3 Sept. 1954, DEFE 5/54.
15. INTEL 140, 'Cyprus', 25 June 1954, CO 926/180.
16. CC(54) 53, 27 July 1954, CAB 128/27.
17. See Cadogan's criticisms of the Americans in United Nations: Annual Review of the United Kingdom Delegation for 1949, 20 April 1950, FO 371/88392/UP 107/1; also Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954, vol.3, United Nations Affairs (Washington DC, 1979), 1258-63 (hereafter FRUS).
18. See Cadogan's criticisms of the Americans in United Nations: Annual Review of the United Kingdom Delegation for 1949, 20 April 1950, FO 371/88392/UP 107/1; also Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954, vol.3, United Nations Affairs (Washington DC, 1979), 1258-63 (hereafter FRUS).
19. Minute by Eden, 27 June 1954, FO 371/112848/WG 1081/180.
20. Briefing paper, 'The United States Government and the Cyprus issue and tactics in the United Nations', 18 Aug. 1954, FO 371/112855/WG 1081/398. This paper went up to Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, and Selwyn Lloyd.
21. Regarding Anglo-American relations over Guatemala see J. W. Young, 'Great Britain's Latin American Dilemma: The Foreign Office and the Overthrow of "Communist" Guatemala, June 1954', International History Review, 8 (1986), 573-92; Eisenhower quotation from Caroline Pruden, Conditional Partners: Eisenhower, the United Nations and the Search for a Permanent Peace (Baton Rouge LA, 1998), 114-15.
22. Regarding Anglo-American relations over Guatemala see J. W. Young, 'Great Britain's Latin American Dilemma: The Foreign Office and the Overthrow of "Communist" Guatemala, June 1954', International History Review, 8 (1986), 573-92; Eisenhower quotation from Caroline Pruden, Conditional Partners: Eisenhower, the United Nations and the Search for a Permanent Peace (Baton Rouge LA, 1998), 114-15.
23. See FRUS, 1952-1954, vol.3, 753 and 779-80.
24. Barbara Salt, First Secretary, Washington embassy, to W. Hilary Young, Assistant Under-Secretary, Southern Department, 9 July 1954, FO 371/112848/WG 1081/185.
25. See FO 371/112403/UP 242/72 and FRUS, 1952-1954, vol.3, 1395-1402; American aide-memoire on Cyprus, 12 July 1954, FO 371/112851/WG 1081/274.
26. Salt to Young, 17 July 1954, FO 371/112848/WG 1081/195.
27. Eden's marginal comments to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Anthony Nutting's minute on his meeting with Mrs. Fleur Fenton Cowles, socialite and editor of Flair magazine, FO 371/112861/WG 1081/559.
28. Churchill to Eisenhower, 18 Sept. 1954, FO 371/112863/WG 1081/607/G.
29. Eden to Sir Roger Makins, British ambassador in Washington, 15 Sept. 1954, FO 371/112861/WG 1081/558.
30. Lloyd to Dixon, 19 Sept. 1954, FO 371/112863/WG 1081/605A.
31. Minute by the American Department, 27 Sept. 1954, FO 371/112863/WG 1081/602; Selwyn Lloyd was disgusted with Lodge who had 'expressed complete ignorance' of any need to help the British. Lloyd to Eden, 23 Sept. 1954, FO 371/112867/WG 1081/728.
32. L. Ierodiakonou, The Cyprus Question (Stockholm, 1971), 87.
33. Bowker to Young, 28 Sept. 1954, FO 371/112855/WG 1081/384.
34. See the comments by Labour MP, Lena Jeger, in Hansard, H. C. Deb., 556 (19 July 1956). 1506; and Sir A. Eden, Full Circle: The Memoirs of Sir Anthony Eden (London, 1960), 414.
35. See the comments by Labour MP, Lena Jeger, in Hansard, H. C. Deb., 556 (19 July 1956). 1506; and Sir A. Eden, Full Circle: The Memoirs of Sir Anthony Eden (London, 1996), 414.
36. Canberra to Commonwealth Relations Office (CRO), 28 Aug. 1954, FO 371/112855/WG 1081/376.
37. Documents on Canadian External Relations, vol.20, 1954 (Ottawa, 1997), 194-8, 200-3, 206-7; Ottawa to CRO, 30 Aug. 1954, FO 371/112855/WG 1081/394 and CRO memo., CS(54)4, 'Commonwealth Reactions to United Kingdom Policy', 7 Sept. 1954, CAB 134/801.
38. J. Hunt, Ottawa, to Denis Cleary, CRO, 26 Aug. 1954, FO 371/112855/WG 1081/939.
39. CS(54)4, 'Commonwealth Reactions to United Kingdom Policy', 7 Sept. 1954, CAB 134/801.
40. See, 'Cyprus: Plan of Action' by the British Delegation to UN, in FO 371/112880/WG 1081/1153.
41. See Dixon's despatch to Eden, 19 Jan. 1955, FO 371/117622/RG 1081/66.
42. Averoff-Tossizza, Lost Opportunities, 32.
43. CO 926/180, 102-5; Bowker to FO, 20 Dec. 1954, FO 371/112883/WG 1081/1240; minute by R. W. L. Wilding, Southern Department, 16 Dec. 1954, FO 371/112881/WG 1081/1195.
44. See the FO/CO memo., 18 Jan. 1955, FO 371/117622/RG 1081/53.
45. Dixon's despatch to Macmillan, 29 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117663/WG 1081/1201.
46. Dixon to FO, 13 Sept. 1955; Michael Stewart, Consul General, Ankara, to FO, 13 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117656/ RG 1081/992 and RG 1081/986; minute by W. B. M. Johnston, FO, 28 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117661/RG 1081/1142.
47. FO to Washington, 12 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117656/RG 1081/994.
48. Washington to FO, 17 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117658/RG 1081/1041.
49. Scott to FO and FO reply, 17 and 19 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117658/RG 1081/1040.
50. FRUS, 1955-1957, vol.24, The Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean (Washington DC, 1989), 297-9.
51. Nutting to FO, 19 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117658/RG 1081/1052.
52. Minute by J. A. Thomson, Third Secretary, Damascus, 22 Sept. 1955, FO 371/117661/RG 1081/1139.
53. The United States ambassador to Greece, Cavendish Cannon, issued a statement on 13 March which appeared, even to Herbert Hoover, Under-Secretary of State, to be less than impartial. See FRUS, 1955-1957, vol.24, 349-50.
54. CM(56)41, 12 June 1956, CAB 128/30.
55. The British position was put by the Colonial Secretary to the House of Commons in Hansard, H. C. Deb., 562 (19 Dec. 1956), 1272. For a discussion of double self-determination see, Hatzivassiliou, International Status, 81-2.
56. The British position was put by the Colonial Secretary to the House of Commons in Hansard, H. C. Deb., 562 (19 Dec. 1956), 1272. For a discussion of double self-determination see, Hatzivassiliou, International Status, 81-2.
57. The impossibility of preventing inscription was confirmed following advice from Dixon at the UN; minute by Young, 13 Nov. 1956, FO 371/123963/RG 10812/1231.
58. See the record of the meeting of Commonwealth delegations to the UN on 16 Oct. 1956, FO 371/123959/RG 10812/104.
59. See the South African views in FO 371/123959/RG 10812/133.
60. Dixon to FO, 23 Oct. 1956, FO 371/123959/RG 10812/103.
61. Home to Lloyd, 27 Oct. 1956, FO 371/123963/RG 10812/229.
62. Minute by Ivor Pink, Assistant Under-Secretary of State, on Home's letter, 29 Oct. 1956, FO 371/123960/RG 10812/138.
63. British High Commission, Karachi, to CRO, 7 Jan. 1957, FO 371/130124/ RGC 1071/5.
64. See for example J. D. B. Millar, 'Australia and the Crisis' in Wm. Roger Louis and R. Owen (eds.), Suez 1956: The Crisis and its Consequences (Oxford, 1989), 275-83, and W. J. Hudson, Blind Loyalty: Australia and the Suez Crisis 1956 (Melbourne, 1989).
65. See for example J. D. B. Millar, 'Australia and the Crisis' in Wm. Roger Louis and R. Owen (eds.), Suez 1956: The Crisis and its Consequences (Oxford, 1989), 275-83, and W. J. Hudson, Blind Loyalty: Australia and the Suez Crisis 1956 (Melbourne, 1989).
66. Minute by Young, 11 Feb. 1957, FO 371/130125/RGC 1071/41(a): CC(57)6, 1 Feb. 1957, CAB 128/31; FO to Sir Charles Peake, British ambassador in Athens, 30 Jan. 1957, FO 371/130125/RGC 1071/45.
67. Dixon to FO, 21 Jan. 1957, FO 371/130124/RGC 1071/26; Bowker to FO, 18 Jan 1957, relaying the views of the Turkish government, FO 371/130124/RGC 1071/125; Harding to CO, 3 Feb. 1957, FO 371/130125/RGC 1071/45.
68. Peake to FO, 25 Jan. 1957, FO 371/130124/RGC 1071/39.
69. Minute by Hayter, 21 Feb. 1957, FO 371/130130/RGC 1071/193.
70. Minute by Young 'Cyprus at the UN', 6 Feb. 1957, FO 371/130125/RGC 1071/41a.
71. Selwyn Lloyd to Dulles, 8 Feb. 1957, FO 371/130128/RGC 1071/121.
72. United Nations General Assembly Official Records, 11th Session, annexes, resolution 1013 (XI).
73. Ibid., 11th Session, 1st Comm., 856th mtg., 22 Feb. 1957.
74. At the Bermuda conference held with the Americans in March 1957 to repair the rents in Anglo-American relations, Macmillan acknowledged the declining strategic value of Cyprus, FRUS, 1955-1957, vol.24, 464-6.
75. Makarios and Grivas were insistent that the Greeks include the torture claims against the British, see Averoff-Tossizza, Lost Opportunities, 85-6.
76. A. D. M. Ross, Assistant Under-Secretary of State, to Sir Roger Allen, British ambassador in Athens, 16 Aug. 1957, FO 371/130132/RGC 1071/227.
77. H. Bass, CRO, to J. M. Addis, FO, 27 Aug. 1957, FO 371/130132/RGC 1071/ 227.
78. See the Sept. telegrams from British High Commissions in Wellington, Canberra and Pretoria, FO 371/130132/RGC 1071/226.
79. Memo. by Pink, 6 Sept. 1957, FO 371/130133/RGC 1071/246A.
80. FO to Dixon, 12 Sept. 1957 relaying the views of the Canadians, FO 371/130133/RGC 1071/237/G.
81. 'The Cyprus Question at the Twelfth Session of the General Assembly', 27 Dec. 1957, and minute by Hoyer-Millar, 7 Jan. 1958, FO 371/130136/RGC 1071/318.
82. The Turks later accepted the plan providing there were no amendments allowed, assuming the Greeks would then reject it, Harold Macmillan, Riding the Storm 1956-1959 (London, 1971), 669-72.
83. Hatzivassiliou, International Status, 98-9 and 117-18.
84. Averoff-Tossizza, Lost Opportunities, 293.
85. Ierodiakonou, The Cyprus Question, 203-4. Allan Noble confirmed that it was the British delegation which inspired the Mexican resolution. See the private papers of Allan Noble, NBLE 2/1, 127, Churchill College Archives Centre, Cambridge. However, Averoff-Tossizza, Lost Opportunities, 296-7, claims that Cabot Lodge and the Latin American delegations devised it.
86. Ierodiakonou, The Cyprus Question, 203-4. Allan Noble confirmed that it was the British delegation which inspired the Mexican resolution. See the private papers of Allan Noble, NBLE 2/1, 127, Churchill College Archives Centre, Cambridge. However, Averoff-Tossizza, Lost Opportunities, 296-7, claims that Cabot Lodge and the Latin American delegations devised it.
87. Minute by Hayter, 21 Feb. 1957, FO 371/130130/RGC 1071/193. This view was supported by Lloyd and Hoyer-Millar.