Sweet and Bitter Island : A History of the British in Cyprus

Tabitha Morgan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [289]-294) And Index. On a sweltering day in July 1878, the men of the 42nd Royal Highlanders - the Black Watch - waded ashore at Larnaca Bay to begin the British occupation of Cyprus. Today, Britons on sunbeds colonise the same stretch of sand, the latest visitors to an island which has long held a special place in the English imagination - and a controversial role in British imperial ambitions. From Britain's acquisition of the island in 1878 up to independence in 1960, a true understanding of the complexity of Cypriot society and its aspirations eluded most British administrators. In the late 19th century, the British worked furiously to outmanoeuvre a restless Russian Empire bent on southward expansion. In this'Great Game'of superpowers, few episodes were bolder than the British acquisition of Cyprus through a secret treaty with the Ottoman Empire. Initially considered strategically vital for the defence of India, the island soon lost its importance as a military staging post, when Britain occupied Egypt. Nevertheless, Cyprus became a major centre of Allied espionage and counter-espionage in both World Wars - a role that up to now has never been fully revealed.But despite the island's importance, British rule on Cyprus was often somewhat lackadaisical: low salaries resulted in a colourful staff of hard drinking colonial rejects and scholarly classicists of independent means. Disastrous governance combined with a misunderstanding by the British of the growing desire for enosis, the union of Cyprus with Greece, contributed to increasing Cypriot disillusionment with British rule. Drawing on largely unpublished material, Morgan reflects on why successive administrations failed so catastrophically to engage with their Cypriot subjects, and how social segregation, confusion about Cypriot identity and the poor calibre of so many administrators all contributed to the bloody guerilla conflict that led, finally, to Cypriot independence. Sweet and Bitter Island explores for the first time the unique bond between Britain and Cyprus and the complex, sometimes tense, relationship between the two nations which endures to the present day. Extensively researched and lyrically written, this is the definitive portrait of British colonial life on the Mediterranean island. "On a sweltering day in July, 1878 the men of the 42nd Royal Highlanders - the Black Watch - waded ashore at Larnaca Bay to begin the British occupation of Cyprus. Today, Britons on sunbeds colonise the same stretch of sand, the latest visitors to an island which has long held a special place in the English imagination - and a controversial role in British imperial ambitions. Drawing on largely unpublished material, Tabitha Morgan reflects on why successive administrations failed, so catastrophically, to engage with their Cypriot subjects, and how social segregation, confusion about Cypriot identity and the poor calibre of so many administrators all contributed to the bloody conflict that led, finally, to Cypriot independence in 1960. "Sweet and Bitter Island" explores for the first time the unique bond between Britain and Cyprus and the complex, sometimes tense, relationship between the two nations which endures to the present day. Extensively researched and lyrically written, this is the definitive portrait of British colonial life on the Mediterranean island."--Bloomsbury publishing. On a sweltering day in July, 1878 the men of the 42nd Royal Highlanders -- the Black Watch -- waded ashore at Larnaca Bay to begin the British occupation of Cyprus. Today, Britons on sunbeds colonize the same stretch of sand, the latest visitors to an island which has long held a special place in the English imagination -- and a controversial role in British imperial ambitions. Drawing on largely unpublished material, Tabitha Morgan reflects on why successive administrations failed, so catastrophically, to engage with their Cypriot subjects, and how social segregation, confusion about Cypriot identity and the poor caliber of so many administrators all contributed to the bloody conflict that led, finally, to Cypriot independence in 1960. Sweet and Bitter Island explores for the first time the unique bond between Britain and Cyprus and the complex, sometimes tense, relationship between the two nations which endures to the present day. Extensively researched and lyrically written, this is the definitive portrait of British colonial life on the Mediterranean island. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 British Rulers of Cyprus......Page 14 Abbreviations......Page 16 1 Where Are the Forests? 1878–82......Page 19 2 The Whitest of White Elephants. 1882–90......Page 37 3 A High Degree of Mental Culture. 1900......Page 51 4 Softening Our Rough Peasantry. 1900–14......Page 69 5 Clauson Will Do the Best He Can. 1914–18......Page 85 6 Showing Benevolent Neutrality. 1916–19......Page 105 7 Gentle Somnambulance. 1918–26......Page 113 8 No More Mixed Tea Parties. 1926–38......Page 129 9 Bread StuA ed with Raisins. 1939–41......Page 159 10 Stripped for War. 1941–42......Page 179 11 The Levant Fishing Patrol and the Angelic Scheme. 1942–45......Page 203 12 The Great Liberator. 1945–55......Page 215 13 A Child’s Game of Pretend. 1955–58......Page 229 14 Wheel on the Idealist. 1958–60......Page 257 Notes......Page 277 Bibliography......Page 307 Index......Page 313 Table of Contents: Chapter One: Where Are the Forests? 1878- 1882 -- Chapter Two: The Whitest of White Elephants. 1882-1890 -- Chapter Three: A High Degree of Mental Culture. 1900 -- Chapter Four: Softening our rough peasantry. 1900-1914 -- Chapter Five: Clauson Will Do the Best He Can. 1914-1918 -- Chapter Six: Showing Benevolent Neutrality. 1916-1919 -- Chapter Seven: Gentle Somnambulance. 1918-28 -- Chapter Eight: No More Mixed Tea Parties. 1926-1938 -- Chapter Nine: Bread Stuffed with raisins. 1939-1941 -- Chapter Ten: Stripped for War. 1941- 1942 -- Chapter Eleven: The Levant Fishing Patrol and the Angelic Scheme 1942-1945 -- Chapter Twelve: The Great Liberator. 1945-55 -- Chapter Thirteen: A Child's Game of Pretend 1955-1958 -- Chapter Fourteen: Wheel on the Idealist 1958-60 I. B. Tauris Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgements 12 British Rulers of Cyprus 14 Abbreviations 16 1 Where Are the Forests? 1878–82 19 2 The Whitest of White Elephants. 1882–90 37 3 A High Degree of Mental Culture. 1900 51 4 Softening Our Rough Peasantry. 1900–14 69 5 Clauson Will Do the Best He Can. 1914–18 85 6 Showing Benevolent Neutrality. 1916–19 105 7 Gentle Somnambulance. 1918–26 113 8 No More Mixed Tea Parties. 1926–38 129 9 Bread StuA ed with Raisins. 1939–41 159 10 Stripped for War. 1941–42 179 11 The Levant Fishing Patrol and the Angelic Scheme. 1942–45 203 12 The Great Liberator. 1945–55 215 13 A Child’s Game of Pretend. 1955–58 229 14 Wheel on the Idealist. 1958–60 257 Notes 277 Bibliography 307 Index 313 1848853297,9781848853294 Explores the unique bond between Britain and Cyprus and the complex, sometimes tense, relationship between the two nations. Extensively researched and lyrically written, this title presents a definitive portrait of British colonial life on the Mediterranean island.