Sir Malcolm Stevenson KCMG


Malcolm Stevenson was a colonial administrator, the last High Commissioner and first Governor of Cyprus, administering the island from 1920 to 1926. He was then briefly Governor of the Seyshelles from May 1927 until his death 6 months later on 27 November 1927. He was born on 15 March 1878, the year that Cyprus came under British control. He was Irish, born in Lisburn and educated in Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. His first posting was Ceylon in 1901, becoming Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary in 1915 after marrying the Hon. Mabel Chalmers, daughter of the Ceylon Governor, Lord Robert Chalmers in 1914. He was appointed Chief Secretary of Cyprus in May 1917, administering the government from Nov 1918 to Aug 1920 when he was appointed High Commissioner. When Cyprus became a Crown Colony in May 1925 his title changed to Governor. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in Jan 1920 and KCMG in 1923 making him Sir Malcolm Stevenson.

A History of Cyprus by Katia Hadjidemetriou (Nicosia 2007) is critical of the British administration and illustrates British attitudes to the island and it’s people with quotes from those in government. Sir Malcolm Stevenson’s observations on the Cypriot aspiration to self government in 1922 reveal his low opinion of the people:

‘The villager is ignorant, casual, credulous, and improvident; the towns-man is half-educated, cunning, conceited and selfish. The former is content to be ruled; the latter is happy to be protected at the expense, danger, and responsibility of anyone but himself. The average standard of intelligence and education of the Cypriot is low, while those who possess these advantages in any degree turn them almost invariably to unworthy uses. While possessed of many good qualities, not the least of which is an attractive childlike simplicity of thought and expression, he is at heart an Oriental. The island is in truth immature even yet for the advanced constitutional system which was grafted on the country shortly after British Occupation in 1878, and any question of granting it a further measure of political liberty is one which, in my opinion, must be approached with the greatest care and deliberation.’

However the book is kinder to Sir Malcolm when they quote his views on the Tribute money which, in 1878, was set at 92,800 pounds to be paid to the Sultan of Turkey. But it was never paid to Turkey, and since 1907 the British provided 50,000 of the Tribute, using it as aid to Cyprus and tax relief. The Cypriots had to stump up the remaining 42,800 pounds which, they protested, was used to cover expenses of the administration and increases in the salaries of senior civil servants. This surplus appeared to be the exploitation of a subject people by a colonial power. Stevenson pleaded for a better use of the 42,800 pounds when he wrote a report to the British Government in 1926:

‘With such a sum an enormous advance can be made in this country. The construction and improvement of roads, especially in the mountainous districts, can be pushed forward and the resources of the island developed, and tourist traffic encouraged; large and necessary schemes of re-afforestation can be undertaken; the cultivation of flax and cotton, both most important and growing industries, as well as other branches of agriculture can be fostered by the employment of new methods for the proper utilisation to the greatest advantage of the subterranean water, a scheme on which I have already had most favourable advice from Mr Beeby-Thomson, who recently visited Cyprus to investigate this matter. Much needed improvements to the harbours can be undertaken, and many other works of urgent importance carried out. Without this money, development along these lines must necessarily be slow.’


Cyprus | Cyprus Administrators


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames


by Stephen Luscombe