An outstanding British military man, a participant in many battles, Sir Garnet Joseph Walzley (or Woolsley) became the first supreme commissar of Cyprus after the island, as a result of a secret agreement between the high port and London, departed the British empire. Walley served his homeland faithfully, protecting her interests in Burma, Crimea, China, Canada, Gan, South Africa and Sudan.
Being appointed by the Supreme Commissar, he arrived at Cyprus on July 22, 1878, ten days after the island occupied the British troops.
The Archbishop of Cyprus Sofroniy, who organized a solemn meeting of the British military leader in Alangge, turned to him with a speech in which he said that "Cyprus is inhabited by the quiet and peaceful people, but he would not abandon his origin." The archbishop expressed the hope that Cyprus would repeat the fate of the ionic islands, which previously Britain, who conquered them from the French, conveyed Greece. “Our island, unfortunately, was left to the mercy of fate due to the most severe slavery and is not remarkable for any progress, neither spiritual nor material,” Archbishop Sophronius lamented. “Perhaps, according to God's crafts in the new regime, Cyprus will be able to enjoy the benefits of freedom and genuine civilization.” These wishes were destined to come true only in part.
Garnet Walley arrived in Cyprus with a large detachment of the military, mostly Indians. On the island, he moved on horseback, accompanied by adjutants. All this made a rather strong impression on Cypriots. Walley entered Nikosia on July 25, for his needs he rented a house for a colossal amount at that time - 250 pounds a year. Three months later, from Nicosia, he moved to the courtyard of the Kikk monastery to the west of the city (today it is the intersection of the avenues of Griva Digeni and Aguu Prokopiu). Around the courtyard, the camp, which was called the Monaster Camp, was defeated, at the same time the construction of the residence began (today it is the presidential palace). The building was completed in December 1878.
The task of Garnet Wallley was to form the ruling administration. The supreme power belonged to the commissar, i.e. Walley himself. The commissar council, consisting of a secretary, treasurer and royal prosecutor, helped him in the administration of the island. The commissar, members of the Commissar Council and three more representatives of the Cyprus public were a legislative council, which had the authority to issue legislative decisions. The first composition of the Legislative Council included a representative of the Greeks-Kiprotes Georgios Glikis, a representative of the Cypriots Turks Mustafa Fuat and a representative of Carota Catholic Catholics Ricardo Matei. Their first decision concerned the formation of the court. The powers of the Legislative Council also included the organization of public works, taxation, operation of forests, ports and other resources.
In November 1878, Cyprus was visited by the first British tourists - the Lord and Lady Brassi, who arrived on the island on their own yacht. Two years, Lady Brassiy, in London, published a book about their journey - “Sun and Storm in the East” (Sunshine and Storm in the East). In August 1878, the first newspaper began to be published on the island - the weekly Cyprus. Walley demanded that the materials in it be published simultaneously in Greek and English.
With the beginning of the British rule on the shoulders of Cypriots, an additional tax in favor of the Ottoman Empire fell on (since formally the island still belonged to it). It was necessary to pay 92,799 pounds per year, which corresponded to ten shillings per person. It was assumed that this money would go to Istanbul, but in fact they were taken by the British on an account of a loan, which England and France provided the Ottoman Empire to participate in the Crimean war.
At his post, Walley served exactly 11 months, and on June 22, 1879 he went to fight against the Zulus (as a result of the successful military operation of Wallley will become the governor of Natal and Transvaal and will serve in this position until 1882, until the Motherland sends him to deal with the rebels, now in Egypt). The successor of Wallley, as the Supreme Commissioner of Cyprus, became Governor of Nicosia Sir Robert Biddalf.
The Supreme Commissioner of Cyprus was initially subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior, but from December 1880 he was re -called the Ministry of Colony.
This article was first published in the "Vestnik Cyprus" on November 14, 2021. Part of the information could be outdated.
