Fettered Independence: Cyprus 1878–1974 (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Fettered Independence: Cyprus 1878–1974 Van Coufoudakis Stella Soulioti , Fettered Independence: Cyprus 1878–1974, 2 vols. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Mediterranean and East European Monographs, University of Minnesota, 2006. Vol. I, pp. 626; Vol. 2, pp. 824. $100.00. This two-volume book is the 16th in the series published by the Modern Greek Studies Program at the University of Minnesota, and the eighth devoted to Cyprus. The series as whole constitutes a major and important addition to the scholarly literature on Eastern and Southeastern Europe, and the book under review here continues this tradition of excellence. In Volume I the author examines the political and diplomatic developments on Cyprus from the British takeover in 1878 to the constitutional crisis of 1963 and its aftermath. Volume II is an invaluable collection of more than 100 documents produced between 1929 and 1964 and drawn from the author's personal and hitherto unpublished archive. Thanks to Ms. Souliotis friends, these archives were saved from destruction during the 1974 Turkish invasion. A booklet with maps supplements this two-volume set. Other historians and political scientists such as Robert Holland, Diana Markides, G. S. Georghallides, Evanthis Hatzivassiliou, and Stanley Kyriakides have given us significant insights into this time period. Ms. Souliotis augments and expands on this solid body of work by providing not only the assessment of someone who participated in the critical events of the post-WWII period, but by also making available primary sources that support her analyses. The author comes from a highly respected Cypriot family. She is a British-educated barrister with a distinguished legal and political career in Cyprus. She was the first woman to serve as Minister of Justice (1960–1970), Law Commissioner (1971–1984), and Attorney General (1984–1988). In addition to holding these political offices, she has been a personal advisor to every president of Cyprus since its foundation. Thanks to her interest and commitment to building a public archive, she has meticulously accumulated perhaps the most complete documentary record on the diplomacy of twentieth century Cyprus. She provided reasoned and informed advice to successive Cypriot presidents who relied on her knowledge and access to key historical sources. Her carefully balanced and sensitive account of the critical decades of the 1950s and 1960s must be read by anyone interested in Cyprus. Her deep knowledge of key personalities in the Greek and Turkish Cypriot political arenas, her direct involvement in the events of the period, and her familiarity with the relevant archives in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, provide the reader with an insightful analysis relevant even to today's developments. Her methodical and critical analyses address the actions of all the parties involved in the Cyprus Question and offer important insights on President Makarios' decisions and actions. In her introduction, the well-known British constitutional lawyer, Claire Palley, correctly notes that this is an important and brave book that touches on the sensitivities of all protagonists. More importantly, this book is not a self-serving memoir justifying the author's actions and ideas. The author describes British colonial policy as one of retrogression rather than progression. It denied both communities their national identity as well [End Page 340] as access to democratic institutions. Yet Greek Cypriots had fought for Britain in earlier wars. Britain's refusal to come to terms with Greek Cypriot political aspirations in an era of de-colonization led to the 1955 liberation struggle. The struggle on Cyprus gave Greek Cypriots a set of values and a heightened sense of dignity and self-respect. Britain's harsh countermeasures did much to increase support for the Greek Cypriot struggle. Looking back the author concludes that the struggle may have lasted too long, contributed to the rift between Archbishop Makarios and General Grivas, deepened the split between the two communities, and increased the tensions between Greece and Turkey. Ms. Souliotis examines the six attempts at a constitutional settlement in Cyprus between 1955 and 1958 and gives the reasons why each of them failed. In 1956, during the presentation of Lord Radcliffe's proposals, Turkey formally introduced the idea that any settlement had to include legal equality, political autonomy based on federation, and separate...