The Annexation of Cyprus.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1887, Page 7

The Annexation of Cyprus.

So Cyprus has b©g*i.annexed to the British possessions, thus realising the fondest hopes of the Eurl of Beaoousfield, who realised the great importance of (tihe island, owing to its commanding position inear the Suez Canal, There is a strange stoay afloat in regard to ibhe temporary cesaioufiif Cyprus to England; it is told by a diplouwat who took part in tJie treaty of Berlin- It was understood tfoat Austria should joe compensated by Russia with the proviaofis of Bosnia and Herzgovina, ior Austria* benevolent neutrality during the last Turkish-Russian Avar., but the agreement was totally ignored at the Congress of Berlin. Count Aadrassy, the» Prime Minister of Austria, was in despair, but fortunately, during the meetings, the existence of the Cyprus treaty became public through the indiscretion of & elei le in Downing-straeL France, which hitherto had gone hand in Ijand with England, was exasperated, and M> Waddingtou threatened to leave the eongres«. Lord IJeaeousiield, however, paeiiiedhim by making a secret bargain with him. Ho promised Fmuce Tunis, the protectoiate of Syria, and a kind of condominium in Egypt. Then Piince Bismarck suggested to Count Andrassy to threaten to break up the congress if % Austria was not awarded Bosnia and Herzgovinn. Count Andrassy did so, and Lord Beacojisfieki consented to Austria's demand, with the reservation that, as in the case of Cyprus, there should be " temporary occupation." Prince Uortehakow had every len^on to consent to this. Tims Count Andrassy was unable to keep his promise to obtain Bosnia and Horzgovina entirely and completely as oflered by Kiifesia to Austria, and this deviation was never forgiven. For a time lie remained in ofh'ce, but as soon as the alliance with (lermany was concluded, he was forced to retire, and he ha* never been able to routine otfiee. i