Romans 5:3--4

Romans 5:3-4

From Cornwall went the cable: FOOT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, CYPRUS: SEE SECOND CORINTHIANS FOUR VERSES EIGHT AND NINE. On Cyprus, Sir Hugh Foot, 50, Britain's hard-pressed Governor, opened his Bible to the passage his father, Isaac, had indicated:

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

From Cyprus to his father, a 78-year-old Methodist lay preacher, Sir Hugh replied: FOOT, CALLINGTON, CORNWALL: SEE ROMANS FIVE VERSES THREE AND FOUR.

The passage:

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.

In this spirit last week Sir Hugh Foot set about introducing Britain's intricate new plan to give limited self-government to Cyprus (TIME, June 23). Tribulation was what he expected. After the previous week's bloodshed between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the British had rushed additional troops to Cyprus, boosting the security force to 37,000 men for an area smaller than Los Angeles County. They postponed the scheduled public announcement of the plan for 48 hours to give the NATO Council a chance to calm the growing bitterness between NATO Partners Greece and Turkey. In a concentrated diplomatic effort, all the other 13 NATO powers--led by the U.S.--pressed the Greeks and Turks to at least consider the plan and withhold violence that could endanger the alliance.

Adventure in Partnership. In the House of Commons, Harold Macmillan announced the British offer. Stating Britain's "obligation . . . to give a firm and clear lead out of the present deadlock." he offered an "adventure in partnership." Declared Macmillan: "Cyprus should enjoy the advantages of association not only with the United Kingdom, but also with Greece and Turkey."

To draw the Greeks and Turks into what would amount to a condominium, Macmillan invited each nation to send a representative to the island to work with the British Governor and the local Cypriot Council. He proposed that Cypriots be allowed to become Greek or Turkish citizens while retaining their British citizenship. If this experiment works, said the Prime Minister, Britain would be prepared to go further and "at the appropriate time . . . share the sovereignty of the island with her Greek and Turkish allies." Complicated as the plan was, it had certainly considered everyone's feelings. But within hours the rejections began to roll in. The nays were at least softer than anyone had dared hope after all the violence. In an artfully worded letter that was two days in the writing, exiled Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios, bearded leader of the Greek Cypriot movement for union with Greece, objected that the plan could constitutionally divide the island in two, "thereby creating a focus of permanent unrest." But Makarios, whom Macmillan offered to return to Cyprus if violence ceased, concluded on a milder note: "We do not reject a transitory stage of self-government."

Constructive & Courageous. In Ankara the Turkish government, which had stirred up mainland demonstrations to match the riots it had provoked on the island, as abruptly called off the agitation. Only a week after mobs cried, "Partition or Death!", the Turks dropped a hint that partition might be reconciled with "partnership." Significantly, no Greek, Turkish or Cypriot leader stated any strong objection to Britain's decision to stay and keep peace on the island until 1965.

Cyprus was an armed camp as R.A.F. planes swooped over the island showering leaflets outlining the plan and Hugh Foot went on the air to declare: "This constructive and courageous course is the only one that can save Cyprus from disaster." Added Sir Hugh: "No one need lose. Everyone stands to gain." Then he waited for everyone's second thoughts, with the patience that worketh experience and in time hope.

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