To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

It was with great interest that I read the editorial on Cyprus that appeared in your December 4 issue. I feel that it was highly successful in capturing the main problems involved, and in showing why a solution is not going to be reached easily. There is one statement, however, which is definitely out of place in this well informed article, and that is the assertion that "it would be difficult to find any real progress achieved" in the last five years.

All one has to do is look at the record to see the progress that has been made. The British have acknowledged the validity of the claim of self-determination. They now talk of a solution which represents real progress over their position five years ago that this was a purely domestic matter and therefore not under UN jurisdiction. On the American side the realization that the problem is acute is progress enough to make a solution more feasible.

On the Greek side definite progress has been made towards a solution. Enosis has been dropped and an independent Cyprus is now being talked of both by the Greek Government and by Archbishop Makarios. The repeated talks between Selwyn Lloyd and premier Karamanlis certainly represent progress over the situation a short three years ago when diplomatic relations were all but terminated between Athens and London. In the UN five years ago Greece failed to get the Cyprus item on the agenda for debate, and they were talking of enosis. Last year the Greek resolution for self-determination got a majority in the UN, but failed to get the 2/3 necessary.

In only one respect is the statement about lack of progress correct, and that is in describing the Turkish position. Whereas five years ago Turkey said next to nothing about Cyprus, the issue is now considered important enough for the Turkish foreign minister to make the trip to the UN this year to put forth his country's claim personally. It is hoped, however, that the Turks can be persuaded to see that their true interest lies in dropping their ridiculous claim for partition (even the British have ruled partition out as unfeasible) and instead of further exacerbating the situation to work towards genuine safeguards for the minority of the island who have always lived at peace with the Greek Cypriots.

If the progress that has been made in the last five years on the Cyprus problem continues, there will be no Cyprus problem before the UN in 1963. Nicholas S. Zoullas '59.