Enosis and EOKA
In less than 100 years Cyprus has come from rags to riches. From being the invaded or controlled by the Romans, the Crusaders, the Venetians; then suffering three hundred years of Ottoman rule the island came under British protection in 1878. Today the country is an equal partner in the European Union - what was the turning point?
It's impossible to consider Cyprus' change in fortune without mentioning EOKA and Enosis. To put things in perspective, in the early years of the last century, Greece was still building a state as it reclaimed territory from Turkish rule.
Turkey's rule was not a happy one for the Greeks. To cite an example education was forbidden for Greek people but was conducted clandestinely by Greek Orthodox priests. As island after island returned to the mother country, in a process known as Enosis, many among the predominately Greek population of Cyprus believed that they too should be part of the process.
This might have been easily facilitated as Britain, in 1915 offered Cyprus to Greece if it would join the WW1 against Germany by aiding Serbia. Unfortunately after agreeing, King Constantine who just happened to be married to the Kaiser's sister, changed his mind. When he was temporarily deposed, Greece did enter the war on the side of the allies but as it was 1918 and all over bar the shouting, Lloyd George said it was a little too late to warrant the prize of Cyprus.
In 1923 Turkey and Greece recognised Britain's annexation of Cyprus. And in 1925 it became a Crown Colony crushing hopes for Enosis. A Cypriot delegation in London in the 1930s was rudely rebuffed. When Taxes were raised riots broke out on the island and the Governor's house was burned down. Troops were sent from British bases in Egypt to crush the Nationalistic movement.
It was a heavy-handed response and one that Britain came to regret. After WWll colonies everywhere that had joined the fight against Fascism where asking for independence. But when Prime Minister Atlee offered Cyprus self-government in 1948 it was declined because it did not offer self-determination.
From then on Britain faced an ongoing struggle on two fronts - acts of insurgency commanded by the battle hardened General Grivas, and the political skill of a priest, Michael Mouskos, who at his ordination took the name of Makarios.
Makarios studied in Athens and in Boston where, some say, he met Greek Nationalists and resolved to break from British control.
In 1948 the young Makarios was given the task of uniting Greek Cypriots under the Church banner. Many Cypriots who had fought alongside the British in WWll felt badly aggrieved that there request for self-determination had been pushed aside. Some flocked to the Communist Party, AKEL in a bid to better working conditions and achieve independence. Others rallied to the cry of Enosis and unity with Greece.
Makarios organised a referendum. Unfortunately as the voting was held in Greek Orthodox Churches, the Turkish Cypriots or Muslim Cypriots as they were then known, were excluded. There was also a threat of excommunication for anyone who did not support the cause.
Makarios achieved 96 per cent of the vote and 6 months later on the death of his predecessor Makarios ll, took on robe of political and spiritual leader of the Greek Cypriots. Britain was forced to take notice.
At the same time in Athens, George Grivas, a Cypriot-born retired colonel in the Greek army began considering the first steps in a military confrontation. Fifty-two-year old Grivas was a tough battle-seasoned soldier and former lecturer in military tactics. He had organised the communist guerrilla campaign in Greece, and considered the tactics could be brought to bear in Cyprus.
He met with Makarios but Makarios was unconvinced that the tactics would work. After a meeting in 1952 Grivas returned to Cyprus against Makarios' wishes and spent five months in total secrecy planning attacks on British bases and installations.
The plan was to cause so much disruption that the world would see the country was no longer fully under control.
Makarios was working to put Cyprus before the UN. He went over the heads of the Greek administration and lobbied whichever countries would listen of the justice of the cause.
In 1954 Britain ordered withdrawal of troops from Suez to Cyprus. The following day Churchill's Colonial Minister Hopkison told Parliament the Cyprus could never expect to be fully independent. This dispelled any pretence that Cyprus was moving towards independence under Britain.
When Churchill as Colonial Secretary had said would look with respect at the idea of Cyprus' independence, It was taken as a promise - maybe not today but eventually. Churchill had only meant "maybe", "possibly", or "who knows?"
