"Radcliffe Project"

AI-assisted Knowledge Update: This article was automatically consolidated to provide you with the most up-to-date data instantly.

--- CONTENT ---
The Radcliffe plan or constitutional proposals Radcliffe was the proposal for a solution to the Cyprus issue tabled by Lord Radcliffe in 1956. It predicted a continuation of British domination on the island.

The Radcliffe Project
In 1956, the EOKA struggle was raging in Cyprus for Union with Greece, with the then governor John Harding taking hard measures to fight the guerrilla.

Rancliffe came to Cyprus initially on 15 July 1956 where he met with Turkish Cypriot politicians-Greek Cypriots avoided meetings with him because of the adamant struggle for union.

On November 14, Radcliffe submitted the plan to the English government. According to historian Hynes Richter, it was a liberal constitution in which he proposed the diarchy of legislative and executive power, with enhanced protection of minorities, while leaving open the way for self-determination.

Hynes Richter says that the constitution provided for a system of diarchy, where the Governor would have tasks for foreign policy, defence and internal security, while the other issues, fell within the Legislative Council consisting of 24 Greek Cypriots and 6 Turkish Cypriots, who would be elected. Six more would be appointed by the Governor. The constitution was accompanied by four conditions: (a) Cyprus would remain under British rule; (b) military English bases would remain in Cyprus; (c) The Governor would be responsible for foreign policy and internal security; (d) the system would be liberal in nature, in order to ensure self-government with clauses but to protect minorities

Hynes Richter also notes that much of the constitution concerned the relations of the two communities after providing enough protection to the Turkish Cypriots, but not numerically upgrading to the Legislature, as they called for, because he considered it undemocratic. .

Reactions
The Greek government and opposition rejected the plan. On the contrary, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, seeing how it opened the way for division, were positively disposed towards it.

See also
Distinguishing assembly
EEC
Plan MacMillan
Atcheson Project
Archbishop of Cyprus Makarios III
Union referendum

References

Sources

Cyprus solution plans