1878: What the British Found...A Discussion by Raymond Hiscock 'Open Letters from Cyprus'

As Raymond Hiscock explains in 1878, "The British faced deeply ingrained corruption (in Cyprus) and their task was made more difficult by the fact that English Public Schools did not cover a psychological insight study of the Levantine mind."

He continues to say that the British found that "the privileged classes such as Bishops, Lawyers, Doctors, Merchants and Bankers who were found both among the Turkish and Greek Cypriots were exempted from taxes, whereas the Peasants and Labouring Classes were over taxed."

He explains that "The Turks had used the Orthodox Bishops as Tax Collectors and they amassed large fortunes for themselves in the process, out of the poor villagers. At one time, Cypriots were even liable for conscription in the Turkish army unless they paid a poll tax."

Raymond in his revelations also explains that " The oppressed Peasantry of Cyprus when they heard in their fashion of communication that the Island was going to be ruled by the great English Queen Victoria, must have thought that their mystical Queen known as the Regina had come to real life and that their lot would improve, but history shows that this did not happen."

Further on Hiscock discusses "the gross immorality of the British attitude to Cyprus...by explaining the TRIBUTE. This was an annual payment to Turkey and was based on the difference between the Island's revenue and expenditure in the last five years as an Ottoman province. Since Turkey spent nothing on the Island, but had on the contrary taken out what it could, the difference was a large sum which had to be found out of the Cyprus Budget Revenue and of-course the Cypriot tax payer."

He goes on to say that "the high point in irony comes when I tell you that Turkey did not receive a single penny of the Cypriot Tribute, as it was retained by Britain to be paid to the Bond Holders, mostly British and French in discharge of a loan on which Turkey had been in default since 1855."

Therefore "The Islands economy was consequently in dire straits and this sad state of affairs continued until 1914 when Britain annexed Cyprus and continued ruling albeit with some small improvements until 1925 when the Island became a Crown Colony."

"In view of the considerable British Military presence it was considered a priority to wipe out malaria which was widespread and to build good roads. The local Administration had to fight the blimps at home tooth and nail for the money as the blimps insisted that it should come out of the Cyprus Budget"

Sir Garnet Wolseley was the first High Commissioner in 1878 until 1879 and Raymond Hiscock explains that the "support he received from England was dismal and the lack of money acute. In a paper produced by the Colonial Office in 1882, the position is well highlighted when it states that:

"Britain could not govern as cheaply as the Turks, who governed cheaply because they governed badly and allowed everything to go to ruin."

Sir Garnet Wolseley died in Mentone in 1913. Loo, his wife was at his side when he passed away in peace. After a state funeral he was laid to rest in the Crypt of St Paul's, next to the famous Duke of Wellington.

Hiscock ends by saying "I would like to think that Aphrodite will fondly remember him as a man who did the best for Cyprus, which is a great deal more than many others did, whose presence on the Island she had to endure" and still does.