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In Nicosia, though British bombing planes wheeled threateningly overhead, riots broke out again when 6,000 Greeks attended the funeral of the only Greek killed in the first riot. Mournful at first, the mourners were soon hurling rocks with lusty yells at a platoon of British blue-jackets. The platoon opened fire. The mob fled. Final stroke of British policy was to arrest Cyprus' Orthodox Bishop of Kyrenia as an incendiary and insurrectionist. Placed in a British cell the bishop loudly said Orthodox prayers.
The London Times with quiet finality disposed of Cyprus thus:
"Efforts of a Governor of imagination and energy to improve the condition of the island have been neutralized by a group of office seekers and the fanaticism of ecclesiastical politicians. . . ."
Sir Ronald might have saved self & Cyprus both trouble and expense had he radioed for help as soon as the "fiery cross" blazed high, two nights before the riots.
Most Cypriotes (20% Moslems, 80% Greek Orthodox) were delighted when Britain took over Cyprus from Turkey in 1878. Before that Cyprus was ruled by such Asiatic notables as Darius, Xerxes, Harun-al-Rashid. Long before Darius, according to Greek legend, Goddess Aphrodite made her original appearance from sea foam off the coast of Cyprus, plunged the whole world into everlasting sex.
* English translation by Poet Rudyard Kipling.