Alexandros Papagos, stimulated by Greece's new status…

Alexandros Papagos, stimulated by Greece's new status as a NATO ally of Turkey, begins negotiations with Britain and Turkey over the status of Cyprus, a British crown colony and the home of the largest remaining Greek population in territory adjacent to Greece.

The postwar climate of British decolonization has led to expectations that Cyprus, whose population is eighty percent Greek, might become free to join with Greece.

There are two obstacles: Cyprus's strategic importance to Britain and the Turkish population on the island.

For Britain, Cyprus has a special role in protecting British oil supply lines from the Middle East.

In 1954 Britain's foreign secretary, Anthony Eden, states simply that, because of this factor, Britain will never relinquish Cyprus.

The sizeable Turkish population on the island means that Turkey also has a stake in the future disposition of the island, if Britain were to agree to any change in its status.