Relaxation In Cyprus (Press, 13 September 1957)

On 12 September 1957, the Governor of Cyprus, Sir John Harding, announced significant relaxations to anti-terrorist laws on the island. These changes include the abolition of the death penalty for carrying firearms, which has been replaced with life imprisonment. Additionally, the mandatory death penalty for discharging firearms and throwing bombs has been lifted, allowing courts the discretion to impose life sentences or lesser penalties for these offences. This announcement followed the Governor's recent decision to commute the death sentence of Nicos Sampson, a 22-year-old Greek-Cypriot journalist, to life imprisonment for possessing a loaded Sten gun. The relaxations come after the Cyprus government had already withdrawn 33 out of 76 emergency regulations on 9 August 1957, many of which restricted the movement of Cypriots. Sir John Harding had previously indicated his intention to ease restrictions further, contingent upon improving conditions on the island. In an official statement, Harding emphasised that while these offences remain serious, the reduction in such offences had made the decision to relax laws easier. He also warned that if conditions warranting stricter measures were to recur, he would not hesitate to reinstate the previous severe regulations. In the United Kingdom, reactions emerged regarding the Wolfenden report on vice, which has sparked public discourse. Polls conducted by the "News Chronicle" and "Daily Mirror" reveal mixed public sentiment regarding proposed legal reforms. The Gallup poll indicated that 47 per cent of respondents opposed decriminalising homosexual acts in private between men over 21, while 38 per cent supported the change. Meanwhile, responses from the "Daily Mirror" were nearly equally divided on the issue. Most respondents, however, expressed a preference for increased penalties aimed at addressing street prostitution. The "Manchester Guardian" noted the relatively calm public response to reforming laws around homosexuality, seeing it as a strikingly moderate stance amid a potentially divisive issue. Additionally, the Dairy Council of Canada has announced plans to request federal import controls on skim milk powder due to the influx of products from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States selling below Canada's established price floor. In Santiago, Chile, approximately 40,000 high school and university students participated in a strike in support of their teachers, demanding higher wages. The Chilean government stated it was unable to accommodate these demands due to a decrease in national income stemming from declining copper prices.

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