FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE BYGONES: Negotiations at Government House yesterday between Cypriot leaders and Colonial Under-Secretary Julian Amery reached a stalemate over Dr. Fazil Kuchuk’s proposal for Britain to retain 100 square miles of sovereign bases.
After an hour and 15 minutes of discussions, Amery privately conferred with Archbishop Makarios before the Archbishop left the building.
The impasse arose when talks focused on the base areas, with Amery seeking Makarios’ stance on the compromise.
The Archbishop reiterated his well-known opposition, deeming the proposal unsatisfactory for Greek Cypriots. Britain, it seems, also found the idea unappealing, with Amery reportedly willing to accept only 110 square miles.
Midway through the talks, Amery and Makarios met privately but returned without agreement. For the remaining half-hour, both held firm to their positions.
Following Makarios’ departure, Kuchuk stayed for a private discussion with Amery and the Governor, expressing optimism about future meetings.
Earlier, Makarios consulted his ministers, while Amery met Greek Consul-General Christopoulos to assess the situation. No date was set for the next meeting.