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This time the bonds of old friendship failed to carry the day. On his own initiative, Macmillan overruled Salisbury, and at midweek Colonial Secretary Alan Lennox-Boyd told the House of Commons: "While Her Majesty's Government cannot regard [Makarios' statement] as the clear appeal for which they asked, nevertheless they consider that in the present circumstances it is no longer necessary to continue the Archbishop's detention." The government, added Lennox-Boyd, would not permit the Archbishop to return to Cyprus itself, nor would it comply with his demand for immediate lifting of the state of emergency in Cyprus. But Makarios would "obviously" be a participant in future discussions on the status of Cyprus, and, in the meantime, the government was prepared to offer safe-conduct out of Cyprus to any EOKA member who wanted to leave. (As a token of good faith, Field Marshal Sir John Harding, the Governor of Cyprus, called off a dragnet operation by 3,000 British troops who in Harding's confident view were on the verge of capturing Colonel George Grivas, EOKA's Greek commander.)
Tolling Bells. In much of the world Macmillan's decision was greeted with hope and delight. "At least and at last, negotiations that can mean something are in prospect," declared London's News Chronicle. From Dublin, Irish Premier Eamon de Valera sent Makarios a history of Eire's fight for independence, accompanied by a note describing the book as a gift "from one who understands and sympathizes." In Cyprus itself church bells tolled triumphantly, spelling out "Makarios" in an old Greek ringing code, and as the news spread from balcony to balcony, crowds poured into the streets, joyously kissing sheepish British soldiers.
To the British authorities, who had long argued that most Greek Cypriots were weary of EOKA's bloody tactics, the celebrations were a disturbing revelation. Suddenly all Cyprus was a sea of waving Greek flags and photographs of dead EOKA guerrillas. Hour after hour, thousands of tireless voices shouted "EOKA!" and "We have won!"
The rejoicing was soon ended. The first discordant note was struck when Lord Salisbury, in a dramatic repetition of his 1938 stand, resigned as Lord President of the Council, Tory Leader in the House of Lords and chief of Britain's atomic energy program. By freeing Makarios, wrote Salisbury in his letter of resignation, Britain had surrendered the initiative to the Archbishop, "and he will be able to edge us along from point to point. We shall have a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads."
Somber Hint. Some of Lord Salisbury's forebodings were soon confirmed. From the Seychelles, black-bearded Patriarch Makarios announced flatly that he was not prepared to negotiate with the British until he was permitted to return to Cyprus, and somberly hinted that EOKA terrorism would be resumed unless Britain lifted the state of emergency and released all Greek Cypriot political prisoners. By implication he also rejected Britain's offer of limited home rule for Cyprus under the British crown. "For the people of Cyprus," he declared, "a democratic and just solution means only the application of self-determination"—in other words, union with Greece.