Turkish and British reactions to the emigration of the Cypriot Turks to Anatolia, 1924-1927

Abstract

The Treaty of Lausanne gave the Moslem inhabitants of Cyprus the op­portunity of opting for Turkish nationality and of emigrating to Turkey within two years of the Treaty’s ratification. This provision did not remain an empty formality. For the purpose of encouraging and facilitating the flow of emigrants the Turkish Government opened a consulate in Cyprus. Furthermore, seeing that the British authorities in Cyprus — which for their own reasons were disinclined to lose the Moslem minority — were raising various obstacles to the departure of optants of Turkish nationality, the Turkish Government lodged formal complaints with the Foreign Office in London. These representations led to instructions being sent to the Cyprus authorities to amend their policies. Overall, about 5,000 Moslems emigrated to Turkey and by doing so they and their descendants severed all legal connection with Cyprus.