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“The Illustrated London News” (19.9.1953):
Earthquake at Stroumbi, Paphos, 1953
“The Illustrated London News” (24.9.1955):
EOKA – Explosion of a bomb in Nicosia, 1955
ing to Palestine, rather than returning to their fa-
therland, either because of their sad memories
or because their birthplace had become part of
Eastern Europe, and they were afraid of further
attacks against their lives. At that time, Palestine
was under the British Mandate, and there were po-
litical troubles and fighting. Therefore, the British
authorities detained the Jews in Cyprus, until the
disputes were settled.
On the 14th May, 1948, the State of Israel was
formed, and the last British High Commissioner
of Palestine left the country on a British destroyer.
Arrangements were then made by the Cyprus Brit-
ish Government to release the Jews from Cyprus
into the new state of Israel, as there was now no
longer a bar to the arrival of Jewish refugees.
1955
– On 1 April, EOKA launched its fight for
the end of British Rule of Cyprus and for union
with Greece. Sir John Harding was appointed as
the new Governor of Cyprus. Sir John Harding
and Archbishop Makarios had discussions about
the Cyprus question.
1956
– Archbishop Makarios and another three
Greek Cypriots, including two clergymen exiled
to Seychelles. Lord Rackliffe’s constitution pub-
lished in December, but rejected by the Cypriots.
1957
– Sir Hugh Foot was appointed as the new
Governor of Cyprus. Archbishop Makarios was
released from Seychelles and went toAthens.
1959/60
– The Zurich and London Agreement for
the Constitution of Cyprus started with an agree-
ment on the 19 February 1959 in Lancaster House
in London, between Turkey, Greece, the United
Kingdom and Cypriot community leaders (Arch-
bishop Makarios III for Greek Cypriots and Dr.
Fazıl Küçük for Turkish Cypriots). On that basis, a
constitution was drafted and agreed together with
two further Treaties of Alliance and Guarantee in
Zurich on 11 February 1960. 15th August 1960
was the last day of the British Rule of Cyprus.
The Union Jack was lowered for the last time. The
Treaty of the Republic of Cyprus was signed in
Nicosia, on the 16th August, 1960. The Republic
of Cyprus was born.