One of the most consequential decisions in modern Greek history happened on October 21, 1915, and it cost Greece Cyprus ...

One of the most consequential decisions in modern Greek history happened on October 21, 1915, and it cost Greece Cyprus for generations. Britain formally offered to cede Cyprus to Greece, with one condition attached: Greece had to abandon its neutrality and immediately send troops to help Serbia, which was under assault by Bulgaria. The offer was delivered by British Ambassador Francis Elliot to Prime Minister Alexandros Zaimis on instructions from Foreign Secretary Edward Grey. Cyprus had been under British administration since 1878 and formally annexed to the British Empire in 1914, and union with Greece had long been the overwhelming desire of Greek Cypriots. Zaimis asked for time to consult King Constantine. It took two full days before he could secure a meeting. That delay alone illustrates how deeply paralyzed Greece was at the time. The country was in the grip of what became known as the National Schism, one of the most bitter political fractures in Greek history. Eleftherios Venizelos wanted Greece allied with the Entente powers. King Constantine was immovable on neutrality, and Venizelos had just been pushed out of office, with Zaimis installed as his replacement. On October 21, 1915, four days after receiving the offer, Greece formally declined. The government thanked Britain but said conditions did not permit military action. Five days later, on October 26, Grey stood up in the House of Commons and confirmed the offer was dead. The bitter irony is that Greece did eventually enter World War I in 1917, siding with the Allies after all. But the window had closed. Britain never repeated the offer. Cyprus remained under British rule for another 45 years, until August 16, 1960, when it was proclaimed the independent Republic of Cyprus, and the unresolved question of its status has driven conflict in the region ever since. #Cyprus #GreekHistory #NationalSchism