‘A report on Cyprus.’ [‎5r] (9/28)

REPORT ON CYPRUS TO ASSESS ITS SUITABILITY FOR
SETTLEMENT BY OFFICERS OF THE INDIAN ARMY
AFFECTED BY THE WAR BLOCK SCHEME.
This report was undertaken at the request of the Information
Bureau (for officers affected by the War Block Scheme) of the
Military Secretary’s Branch, Army Headquarters, India; to whom
I had offered my services as I intended to visit Cyprus on my way
home from India.
The Cyprus Government was addressed by Army Headquarters
and agreed to give me facilities for making the report. It is regret
ted that the report was not submitted earlier as I was unable to
reach Cyprus till the end of February, 1936.
1 wish at the outset to express thanks to the Colonial Secretary
and the Commissioners of Districts in Cyprus, who have helped
me to get in touch with residents and others; and also to those
gentlemen who have assisted me by giving information and
statistics and showing me their own estates and concerns. I would
mention especiallv Mr. Cecil Davis, th<> proprietor and editor ot
the “Cyprus Mail’’, who, through his paper, was primarily con
cerned in pressing the claims of Cyprus on Army Headquarters.
1. General. —The attraction of Cyprus lies in its natural beauty,
its fine, sunny yet bracing winter climate, and inexpensive living.
It has good roads and drives along the coast no whit less lovely
than the Riviera Corniche, unspoiled by modern buildings oi
unsightlv industrial erections. In spring the wealth of wild flowers
enhances its loveliness. Its mountains provide a cool and healthy
summer resort amongst beautiful woods and delightful scenery.
Its arch geological and mediaeval remains are of intense interest,
and more ancient monuments exist than could be found in a similar
area in any other country in the world. It produces almost every-
thing that man needs including wine and tobacco, and as yet it is
not over exploited. Last but not least it is a British Colony closer
to England than any other country mentioned in the Army Head
quarters “Summary of Information except Malta.
2. Social. —.Cyprus differs from most other British Colonies n
that the resident here is neither among a coloured population as
in Africa, nor among an entirely English speaking community as
in Canada or Australia. The inhabitants of Cyprus are for the
most part Greek-speaking Cypriots. Rather more than a fifth of
the population is Mohammedan (Turkish). The English popula
tion out of a total of 370,000 is only about 500 to 800 (it fluctuates
greatly owing to the large number of winter residents) including