Address from the young Cypriot Communist Party on British imperialism’s declaration that henceforth the island would be a Crown Colony.

‘English Imperialism in Cyprus’ from International Press Correspondence. Vol. 5 No. 51. June 18, 1925.

Declaration of the Communist Party of Cyprus on the Inauguration of the Colonial Constitution of the Island.

To the Workers of England and the International Proletariat!

On the 1st of May, the very same day on which the proletariat of the whole world, under the red flag, proclaimed once more its just demands and protested at the same time against the dishonesty and baseness of the various fascist governments and against the endless intrigues of the imperialists, here in Cyprus, in the corner of the Mediterranean, English imperialism, by “Letters Patent”, declared Cyprus to be a colony, thus adding three hundred thousand workers and farmers more to the millions of colonised peoples who are bound in heavy chains behind its bloody chariot.

This fact was not allowed to pass unnoticed by the bourgeois press of London, which hastened to pronounce and comment upon it in accordance with the interests of its patrons. Many newspapers were full of praise for the new political change in the island, as conferring more liberties on the country, while others, inspired by the Foreign Ministry of Greece, vociferously proclaimed that it was the duty of England to cede the island in favour of Greece in accordance with the well-known desire of its inhabitants.

English workers!

Proletarians of the whole world!

The Communist Party of Cyprus as the only sincere defender of the real interests of the inhabitants of this miserable island, is compelled to appeal to you in order to protest on the one hand against the lies of the bourgeois press which has always been continue its unjust rule over the island, and on the other hand against the lies of the bourgeois press which has always been accustomed to blur the truth in seeking to misinterpret the real aspirations of the enslaved peoples.

Imperialist England which has always been exceedingly cautious in concealing from the peoples she has enslaved her real plans of exploitation by means of granting sham pseudo-liberties, has played the same game in Cyprus, for the famous Legislative Council which was set up in 1878 was nothing more or less than a puppet in the hands of a sly and immoral governing clique.

The duly elected representatives who were returned to this legislative council were possessed of no real legislative power, as everything was entirely dependent upon the whims and the boundless ignorance of the Colonial Office, which had only one aim: to suck from the blood of the country the shameful tribute of £ 92,000, a share of the Turkish debt, in total disregard of the prevailing misery of the suffering people. 

This was the state of affairs down to the 15th of May this year. Let us now examine what are the liberties so graciously granted along with this our official colonisation.

It is absolutely absurd and an abuse of language to talk of liberties! The increase of the native seats on the Legislative Council from 12 to 15, which has been trumpeted all over the world as a magnificent concession of further liberties to the population of Cyprus, is simply a piece of bitter irony, for the number of official parasites has at the same time been increased from 6 to 9, so that the same order is maintained. No other change has been effected. And how is it with regard to the share of the Turkish debt of £ 92,000? This continues to be a heavy burden on the shoulders of the long-suffering people at a time when the financial crisis in the Island is admitted to be without precedent. Has not Cyprus become a colony? By what right is the payment of this barbarous inhuman tribute demanded, when there exists no real indebtness to Turkey? It can only be characterised as a suppression of the weak peoples by capitalism. The English Treasury finds it necessary to fill its huge coffers in order to maintain that invincible guard, the English Fleet. It is of no concern to its administration whether this money is wrung from starving villagers, clad in rags, who, unable to earn their daily bread, are obliged to feed on roots and old herbage.

But we not only protest against the continuation of the foreign yoke, we also protest against the clergy and our bourgeoisie who are clamouring in favour of the union of Cyprus with Greece. This bourgeois minority, consisting of money- lenders and big merchants in close co-operation, is struggling hard for the union, as it sees by this means an easier way to achieve its plans of exploitation against the poor villagers and peasants of the Island. We strongly protest against the national aspirations of the bourgeoisie which are trumpeted forth now and again, and declare that the Cyprian proletarians and the masses of the Cyprian peasants are against the national dreams of the bourgeoisie, for they know very well that under the union a new yoke is waiting for them, far worse than the present, a new conscription and new duties as guards on the sea coast.

Workers of England!

The workers and peasants of Cyprus appeal to you and ask you to take up their claim against the constitution of their slavery to imperialism.

Proletarians of the world!

On May day, when our conquerors were officially proclaiming to us our condemnation to live under British imperialism, our thoughts turned to you, who with your huge processions demonstrated once more to our exploiters that you mean to stand together, ever watchful guardians of our rights. We have placed our faith in you for the attainment of our real liberty, for our autonomy.

Down with imperialism!

Long live the liberation of the peoples! Long live the international proletariat! Long live the international social revolution!

The Central Committee of the Cyprus Communist Party.

Cyprus, May 1925.

International Press Correspondence, widely known as”Inprecorr” was published by the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) regularly in German and English, occasionally in many other languages, beginning in 1921 and lasting in English until 1938. Inprecorr’s role was to supply translated articles to the English-speaking press of the International from the Comintern’s different sections, as well as news and statements from the ECCI. Many ‘Daily Worker’ and ‘Communist’ articles originated in Inprecorr, and it also published articles by American comrades for use in other countries. It was published at least weekly, and often thrice weekly.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/inprecor/1925/v05n51-jun-18-1925-inprecor.pdf