A Spectator's Notebook
ISLANDS ARE NOT this Govern- ment's strong point. Cyprus, Malta, the Seychelles, Bah-. rein, Iceland have all been mishandled at one time or another. For once, things seem rather more promising in Cyprus than they are in Malta. Whatever the reason for it, I welcome the end of the big military sweep through south-west Cyprus. It had never been quite clear what pur- pose it served; perhaps it made the soldiery look impressively warlike (and busy) while the Secre- tary of State for War was swanning around the island the other day? If it is true that Sir Hugh Foot has talked the local generals out of con- tinuing it, then I hope he will turn his persuasive talents on to Mr. Lennox-Boyd, whose uncom- promising attitude in the House of Commons could be taken to mean that we have only called off operations to gird up our loins for more. Since we have at last done something sensible in Cyprus, it is a pity that we should insist upon doing it with such an ill grace.
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