Office of the Historian

407. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco) to Secretary of State Rogers1

Washington, March 2, 1972.

Cyprus: Bishops Demand Makariosʼ Resignation as President

The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus met today. At the conclusion of the meeting the three Bishops issued a proclamation calling for Archbishop Makarios to resign from the presidency.

In the continuing power struggle between Makarios and the Athens regime it appears that the three Bishops have sided with the Colonels. The Bishops are all classical Hellenists, political conservatives, and personal opponents of the Archbishop. They have also been directly in touch with the Government of Greece.

It is difficult to predict how this situation will unfold, apart from saying that the action of the Bishops will certainly increase tension and enhance the chances for violence. The Bishopsʼ declaration is a challenge to the demonstrated popular support for Makarios. I think we can anticipate additional public manifestations in favor of the Archbishop and against the Bishops. On the other hand I believe that this internal challenge is in some senses more serious for Makarios than the challenge of Greece in its February 11 note. The Bishops are, after all, [Page 1011] Cypriots and, after Makarios, they are the leaders of the Church, an institution which is 1500 years old.

There is an outside chance Makarios might resign and leave public life; I am not confident any successor could contain the situation. Resignation, however, would not be in character for the Archbishop. I tend to think that after the smoke clears Makarios will remain in control of the situation. He may be “persuaded” by popular acclamation to remain as President. He might resign, call for an election, and challenge Grivas and the right-wing to come into the open in a presidential contest. He might sit tight, ignore the Bishops and continue to negotiate with the UN to resolve the Czech arms question.

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 CYP. Secret. Drafted by Boyatt and cleared by Davies.↩