In 1956, Turkey planned an invasion of Cyprus to create conditions for Greek and Turkish conflicts with Britain, which was an occupying power, not to react. The information was given by the leader of Yugoslavia, Tito, to the Greek Prime Minister, Konstantinos Karamanlis. Of course, this information raises several questions:Why would Britain, which occupied Cyprus, accept an invasion by Turkey?
BY KOSTAS VENIZELOS
SOURCE:PHILELEFTHEROS
Obviously, it is not the same as in 1974, which watched the Turkish invasion indifferently. There are no answers to what was said in the Tito-Karamanlis conversation, which took place on July 27, 1956 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the "Mon Repo" villa in Corfu, in the presence of King Paulus, Crown Prince Constantine, Minister of the Presidency Constantine Tsatsu and ambassador Misa Pavicevic. The memo, containing the information, was drafted by the Yugoslavs.
From the Greek side, reference is made to the meeting in "Constantinos Karamanlis, archive, events and texts", volume 2. The reference is made to what was said publicly. Marshal Tito, as mentioned in the Karamanlis Archive (page 134), was a guest of the kings in Corfu. In his statements, Karamanlis confirms that the Cyprus issue was also discussed at the meeting. "Certainly addictive, since the Cyprus issue affects the entire foreign policy of Greece".
The contents of the meeting with detailed reports and dialogues are included in the memo, found in Yugoslav archives. The note is from the Yugoslav archives (AJBT, KPR I-2/8, Grčka). The note is included in the publication:The Greek Civil War and the Involvement of the Balkan Countries:Archival Sources from Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania. Edited by Iakovos D. Michaelidis, Spyridon Sfetas &Ilias Skoulidas.
Tito, at some point during the discussions and after mentioning that he could mediate between Greece and Turkey, made revelations. "I want you to be completely secretive about what I am about to expose to you:I have quite reliable information about plans for the landing of Turkish commandos in Cyprus. Should such a thing happen, it would give the English the ability to watch the conflict between the Turks and the Greeks from a distance, as well as a new pretext for remaining on the island.
Karamanlis:So the English are not thinking of a different solution?
President Tito:It seems not! It remains for the Greek government to clarify its demands and mobilize global public opinion.
Karamanlis:Yes, but how will the situation be at the UN?
President Tito:You must prepare well and choose the right moment.
Karamanlis:Unfortunately, we cannot choose. The next session of the UN General Assembly is in November. Will we have your own support?
President Tito:We will not fail. We will do everything we can.
Karamanlis:You have many friends. You could help us by influencing Arab and Asian countries. There is already a predisposition, but your advice would have a great effect.
President Tito:We will. Mainly because the people of Yugoslavia follow with great sympathy the efforts of Greece and the struggle of the Cypriot people.
Karamanlis:This will be an important help for us. We have information that the US will take a neutral stance on the Cyprus issue.
(Pavičević begs Karamanlis to be more precise, because so far the attitude of the USA has been pro-English, if it is a promise of the USA or an expectation of the Greek government) – Karamanlis explains that there is hope that the attitude of the USA will change.
President Tito:Five Eastern European countries are now in the UN. I can't vouch for the USSR – that's one of the Great Powers – but maybe this one too. We could secure the support of the Eastern European countries in the Cyprus issue.
Karamanlis:Sepilov confirmed to us that the USSR supports self-determination. He asks what is India's attitude.
President Tito:This is a delicate matter. At Briony Nehru was not prepared to accept even a quarter of our positions on the German question. We mentioned Cyprus. But I got the impression that Nehru would not want us to come to anything concrete.
When asked by Karamanlis, President Tito explains that this is simply the impression he formed and that Nehru did not say anything negative. However, President Tito has a feeling that Nehru would not want to spoil his relations with Great Britain while relations with the USA are still bad. India is very cautious/cautious.
"The relationship between Britain and Turkey is not platonic"
According to Tito, Turkish aspirations coincided with English interests. Turkey's role in the Middle East benefits England because it provides support to the British system in that region (this is not a platonic relationship). In Greece's fair fight for the Cyprus issue, the most important thing is the moral factor. You should act through the UN, but gradually, within reasonable time limits and by projecting small reasonable demands gradually reach the final solution.
Greece from the Second World War to the Cold War:International Relations and Internal Developments (MIS:380436) Scientific leader Professor Nikos Marantzidis Department of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies University of Macedonia, Research project THALIS - Greece from the Second World War to the Cold War War:International Relations and Domestic Developments).
Tito's reservations about the armed national liberation struggle 1955-59
For the armed struggle against the colonial power, Tito is extremely cautious. Regarding the holding of the struggle in Cyprus, he expresses the opinion that an armed rebellion would be impossible and doomed to failure because the island can easily be blockaded. It raises the question of whether it would be possible to avoid armed action on both sides in order to conduct negotiations in a peaceful atmosphere.
Karamanlis:Assures the President that the government has nothing to do with the armed struggle in Cyprus, but adds that no one would dare to give such advice (stopping the struggle), nor take responsibility that nothing will happen to the Cypriot patriots if stop the resistance.
Greece asked for a dialogue on Cyprus, but the British refused. Then the Cypriots began their armed action. Now it is difficult to convince them that the English will do them justice. The English ask to hand over the weapons, but Greece has bitter experience with Great Britain and her promises. The Greek government does not wish to get involved in the armed struggle, because it understands the gravity of the problem and the consequences it could cause. But it is morally obliged to support the struggle of the Cypriots. Greece insists only on a fair and honest proposal. Unfortunately, Turkey's involvement worsens the Cyprus problem. Greece is willing to satisfy three main demands of Turkey (strategic, economic and the minority issue) in the following way:
a) the Turkish minority:grant of dual citizenship with exemption from military service, recognition of all minority rights with the guarantee of an international organization (UN),
b) strategic:limitation of military actions and controlled disarmament of Cyprus, (King Paul:In World War I, Cyprus was an English base against Turkey. There is less danger for Turkey if Cyprus comes under the control of small Greece, rather than Great Britain!)
c) economic:creation of a free port in Cyprus or a customs union of Cyprus with Greece and with Turkey.
President Tito:The US is currently on the side of Great Britain and indirectly Turkey because they want to have Turkey as a bulwark (if they can at all) against the USSR.
Karamanlis:This is what I say to the Americans, but they attach great importance to the Baghdad Pact.
President Tito:Everything will depend on the relations of the Great Powers. Turkey could find itself isolated at some point. The Cyprus issue must be considered in the context of international developments and not independently of them. The English will not give up the issue and have the means to achieve it.
At this point, Tito also refers to his information about the invasion of the Turkish commandos in Cyprus.
SOURCE:The note is from the Yugoslav archives AJBT, KPR I-2/8, Grčka. The note is included in the publication:The Greek Civil War and the Involvement of the Balkan Countries:Archival Sources from Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania. Edited by Iakovos D. Michaelidis, Spyridon Sfetas &Ilias Skoulidas.