Today in History – 7 April

A letter of warning to Makarios

On his official visit to Ankara between November 22 and 26, 1962, President Makarios III of the Independent Republic of Cyprus met twice with İnönü and expressed certain concerns he believed were instigated by the Turkish administration on the island. He also mentioned the need to grant the people of Cyprus the right to change the constitution. İnönü’s response to this demand was quite clear: “Turkey will never sanction any unilateral change to the Constitution of Cyprus.”

Despite İnönü’s determined stance, Makarios proposed, on November 30, 1963, amendments to be made to the thirteen paragraphs of the constitution that protected the Turkish minority on the island. Turkish Cypriots opposed the proposition. As tension escalated, armed attacks were held against the Turks on the island on December 20th and 21st. The infamous incidents known as “Bloody Christmas” led to the death of 364 Turkish and 174 Greek Cypriots; 8,667 Turks were forced to move out of their villages.

As one of the three guarantor states of the Cyprus Constitution, Turkey vehemently condemned the attacks and prepared for a possible military intervention. In addition, Prime Minister İnönü sent Makarios a letter on April 7, 1964 and warned the President. Foreseeing a possible intervention by the Turkish side, U.S. President Johnson sent İsmet İnönü the famous letter he wrote on June 5th of the same year.