March 14, 1958
GREECE-BRITAIN: A joint communique on British-Greek talks on the Cyprus issue was released yesterday as the British delegation left for London. Cyprus Governor Sir Hugh Foot also left for Nicosia after visiting Cypriot Ethnarch Archbishop Makarios for a half-hour discussion. The text of the communique and statements made by authorities in Athens, London and Nicosia allow the following conclusions to be drawn from the talks. First of all, they were held within the framework set for the meeting. Without any previous agenda being set, all the various aspects and parameters of the Cyprus issue were examined and Greece’s position was made clear to the British side. According to British Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd, no settlement was reached, nor had any side expected there to be. Nevertheless, he said, the talks were of mutual benefit and would pave the way for a further examination of the problem. Diplomatic channels would ensure the continuation of efforts to find a solution, he said. Meanwhile, in a related development, the British initiative for a meeting between Sir Hugh Foot and Archbishop Makarios can also be considered a major achievement.
