July 19 1974
Turkey moved thousands of troop reinforcements to its Mediterranean coast facing Cyprus yesterday and warned that time was running short for a diplomatic settlement of the crisis precipitated by the overthrow of President Makarios.
In Cyprus itself, troops of the Greek-led National Guard, who staged last Monday’s coup, were reported in control of the island and to have begun the second phase of their operation – a manhunt for left-wing and pro-Makarios politicians. One report said that more than 1,000 people had already been arrested.
And while newly-installed President Nicholas Sampson told his first press conference that he planned to unify Cyprus, Turkish premier Bulent Ecevit told reporters in London that the Cyprus situation was “very grave” and that time was running short for a diplomatic solution.
“Hour-by-hour the legal means of countering the Greek military presence are decreasing,” he said. “The illegal Greek regime is consolidating its position on the island, which makes the time element very important.”
The urgency of the situation was underlined by a report from Mersin, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast only 40 miles from Cyprus, that thousands of troops were pouring into the area.
Athens reports said Greece had put its Air Force on standby and had also sent ships steaming towards Cyprus to counter any possible Turkish intervention.
British and US warships are also gathering in the area.
Among the Turkish people, the demand for armed action over Cyprus was rising yesterday. Politicians, businessmen and trade unionists all pledged maximum support to the government it is reported from Ankara. One newspaper charged that the United States was supporting the Greek military junta which has been accused of responsibility for the Cyprus coup.
Archbishop Makarios arrived in New York yesterday and was greeted by about 500 supporters. They chanted his name and shouted “CIA out, CIA out of Cyprus”.
The Archbishop said he sought only to restore the constitutional process to Cyprus and added: “If the military regime which has taken over Cyprus does not get out, we will think again.”
Then he drove to a New York hotel where he will stay until he addresses the UN Security Council to-day.
