AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73-00475R000100730001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2014
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 26, 1964
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT,
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NEW YORK TIMES JAN 26 1964
?
An Open Letter
to
PRESIDENT JOHNSON
Dear Mr. President:
? As citizens of the United States, we must voice our gravest concern over
the strife in Cyprus, which has been precipitated by the unilateral efforts of
Greek Cypriots to set aside the Cyprus Republic's Constitution And freely-
contracted international treaties.
? To achieve their selfish ambitions at any cost, these Greek Cypriots?as ?
widely reported by the neutral international press?showed no mercy in at-
tacking Turkish Cypriot women, children and old people in accordance with ,
their pre-conceived plan to annihilate the Turkish population of the island.
We protest this flagrant violation of the principles of the United Nations
Charter and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
. In assessing the present dispute, its causes and remedial actions to be ?
taken, we dare not, Mr. President, lose sight of the realities which led to the? '?
creation of the Cyprus Republic as an independent state. We could be dan-
gerously misled if we accept the malicious, self-aggrandizing view that the
3-year-old Constitution is now an ill-conceived and obsolete document. In- ,
stead, thoughtful examination of the controversy commends careful study of '
the reasons which necessitated specific checks and balances in the island's ?
Constitution.
As is well-known, Mr. President, two distinct ethnic communities?Greek
and Turkish?have lived side by side in Cyprus for centuries. Admittedly, the ,
Greek community is the larger of the two. But the importance of 120,000 ,
Turkish Cypriots in a total population of about 580,000 cannot be mini-
mized by quoting percentages. It is also well-known that the Greek Cypriots
have been striving for "Enosis" . . . union with Greece, while the Turkish,
community sought the partition of Cyprus between Greece and Turkey, in
accordance with Article '73 (b) of the United Nations Charter which pro- 1
vides that due account should be taken of the political aspirations of non- ;
self-governing peoples in promoting their independence.
?
The deep interest of both Greece and Turkey in Cyprus is natural and
timeless. But when pursuit of respective political aims by the Greek Cypriot
and Turkish Cypriot communities on Cyprus reached proportions threatening
a confrontation between Greece and Turkey which would weaken the NATO'
Alliance in the Eastern Mediterranean, compromise became Mandatory.
To ward off impending danger, the United Kingdom,' Greece and Turkey?
along with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities?agreed on the
creation of an independent State of Cyprus based on partnership of the two,,,
ethnic communities. With political foresight, and in the full spirit of com-
promise, the new State was placed under the joint guarantee of the United
Kingdom, Greece and Turkey in order to insure that the constitutional set- -
up of the island Would not be changed to the detriment of any of the par-
ties concerned.
The Turkish Cypriot community is not a privileged minority, as so often
mistakenly presented. It is, instead, a partner in the ?Republic's administra-
tion, with its numerical ratio proportionately reflected in Constitutional
safeguards. Therefore, those sections of the Cyprus Constitution which set
forth the rights of Turkish Cypriots must be looked upon at terms of partner-
ship And the basis for collaboration; not as laws that give unusual privileges
to a minority of the population. '
If such collaboration so essential to the smooth functioning of any de-
mocracy has been missing in Cyprus, the blame must rest with the Greek.
Cypriot Community. ?
. . _
Contihueff
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(`?'?
JAN 2 6 1964
-
The Constitutional crisis, Mr. President, has only recently come into the
open. But it began, and has continued ever since August, 1960, when the
Republic of Cyprus became a Constitutional entity. It was precipitated by
persistent, unjustified and illegal refusal of Greek Cypriot political leaders,
in virtual control of the Republic's administration, to observe the Constitu-
tional provisions aimed at protecting Turkish Cypriots against "second class
I citizenship."
In one instance of flagrant disregard of the rights of the Turkish Cypriot
community, the Greek Cypriots defied a Constitutional Court order by
continually blocking legislation regarding the setting up of municipalities.
Although the Cyprus Constitution stipulates that separate municipalities
shall be set up, the Greek Cypriot. President declared he would not allow
enactment of this legislation tnd that he would not listen to the judgment '
? of the Constitutional Court.
It is distressing, hut true, that the Constitutional Court's- President?a
neutral German?resigped as the result of President Makarios' negative
attitude toward the rule 'of law of this vital Constitutional guarantee . . .
only one of many deplorable violations of the Constitution and the Republic's
international treaties. .
Archbishop Makarios has often acted in an unlawful manner, despite his
, given word, despite the agreements he solemnly signed, and despite his
eminence as a religious leader. His actions, in retrospect, have brought the
? needless massacre of innocent people. To our fellow citizens of the United
States, imbued with the highest principles of justice and equity, we leave.
the judgment of these atrocities and the outspoken desire of President '
Makarios to renounce freely-contracted agreements.
President Makarios, who presented his inflammatory 13 amendments to
? the Constitution in November as a provocative weapon in an already serlous
situation, has characterized these amendments as innocent changes to achieve
more efficient government. They are, in fact, Mr. President, thinly disguised
efforts to 'completely abrogate the Constitution and the treaties which
shaped and guaranteed the simple rights of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The Greek Cypriots, Mr. President, clamor incessantly for a unitarian
regime in Cyprus for one selfish reason. They look upon a bonafide and
Constitutional partnership in executive and legislative functions, vested in '
the Turkish Cypriot community, as an impediment to their realization of
"Enosis" . . . the age-old dream of union with Greece. A federal system of
shared governmental responsibilities like our own, is generally best suited
for societies of varying ethnic backgrounds. This truth is particularly valid
; in Cyprus, where deep-rooted rivalries can so readily be nurtured when
political aspirations of the majority raise justified suspicions.
Ytt the Greek Cypriot leadership obstinately clings to its dream of a
' unitarian State . . . even at the peril of serious international strife.
I The bloody events of last December, Mr. President, have proved beyond
'any doubt that survival of the Republic of Cyprus demands a system of
firm and effective Constitutional guarantee.
0
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7Th
Only the timely intervention of the United Kingdom, Greece And Turkey
, ?the three guarantors of Cypriot independence?checked the massacre of
Turkish Cypriots in late December. We share the shock and indignation of
all Americans, Mr. President, in the wanton campaign .of genocide so vio-
lently launched by the Greek Cypriot community. This tragic experience gives
terrifying evidence of the danger of leaving Turkish Cypriots to the mercy
' of the island's Greek Cypriot community.
The present Constitutional guarantees must be continued. They deserve,
if anything, to be made more effective.
We believe, Mr. President, that the United States should immediately
speak out in strong defense: of international law. To postpone our condem-
nation of ruthless violation of treaties?in Cyprui or anywhere?is only to ;
condone the violence that is inevitably suffered by people" who lose their
Constitutional protection. ?
As a nation which honors its own international commitments, we must
insist that others behave in. a similar manner. If we are to "look the other
way"?while international treaties are flagrantly broken scarcely. three
years after their ratification?we sow nothihg but the seeds of international
anarchy ... from which only enemies of peace can reap rewards. ?
Respectfully,
AmeriCan Friends of Cyprus
JAN 2 6 1964 0
Turkish Aid Society ofNew York, Inc.
1157 Thieriot Avenue
Bronx 72, New York
Executive Committee: Mithat Alpo' Semi ?Mehmet, Hi/mi
Edip, Noci 111 i.h.,Vet, giro: Lombiro, Musto.fo Soroch
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