Europe
Cyprus, Where Three Powers Aimed for their Influence
British Role in the Conflict
Greek Cypriots frustrated with the British rejection of demands for enosis (Union with Greece) initiated an armed underground campaign known as the National Organization of Cypriot Struggle, or EOKA. Led by the Greek commander George Grivas, EOKA systematically targeted British colonial authorities.
British played the policy of Divide and Rule which it had successfully played in India during its colonial rule over the subcontinent. Right after the EOKA campaign the British government successfully began to turn the Cyprus issue from a British colonial problem into a Greek-Turkish issue. British diplomatic policies were crafted with the aim of making Turkey active in Cyprus. With this British aimed at two objectives. On one hand the EOKA campaign would be silenced as quickly as possible, and on the other hand Turkish Cypriots would not side with Greek Cypriots against the British colonial claims over the island and the island would remain under the British [Source: Anthony Eden, 2005. Memoirs, Full Circle, Cassell, London 1960, p.400].
The Turkish Cypriot leadership at the time, visited Adnan Menderes to discuss the Cyprus issue. When asked how the Turkish Cypriots should respond to the Greek Cypriot claim of enosis (Union with Greece) Menderes replied: “You should go to the British foreign minister and request the status quo be prolonged, Cyprus to remain as a British colony.” Later when the Turkish Cypriots visited the British minister of foreign affairs and requested that Cyprus remain a colony, the Minister replied: “You should not be asking for colonialism at this day and age, you should be asking for Cyprus be returned to Turkey, its former owner” [Source: Arif Hasan Tahsin. “He Anodos Tou _Denktas Sten Koryphe”. January, 2001. ISBN 9963-7738-6-9 page 38].
British Government which was slightly inclined towards the favour of Turkey to preserve its colonial rule on the island did not recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and rejected the self declaration of independence.
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