GREECE: KING CONSTANTINE RETURNS TO ATHENS -- PRESENTS DIPLOMAS TO GRADUATES OF THE NAVAL WAR SCHOOL

Record ID: 622255

  • Title: GREECE: KING CONSTANTINE RETURNS TO ATHENS -- PRESENTS DIPLOMAS TO GRADUATES OF THE NAVAL WAR SCHOOL
  • Date: 25th July 1965
  • Summary: THE ARRIVAL OF KING CONSTANTINE; PRIME MINISTER NOVAS; DEFENCE MINISTER COSTOPOULOS; PRESENTING THE DIPLOMAS; TAKING THE SALUTE AT A MARCH PAST. Initials DS/S/MR/JG Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 9th August 1965 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ATHENS, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Reuters ID: LVA90J7GR5ONP0AIUO4B85SV2OQN
  • Story Text: KING CONSTANTINE OF GREECE RETURNED TO ATHENS TODAY (SUNDAY) AS THE GREEK CAPITAL PREPARED FOR ANOTHER WEEK OF ANTI-ROYAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND A ONE-DAY GENERAL STRIKE. HOWEVER, KING CONSTANTINE'S FIRST ENGAGEMENT WAS NON-POLITICAL. HE PRESENTED DIPLOMAS TO SENIOR OFFICERS GRADUATING FROM THE SCHOOL OF NAVAL WAR AT BOTANIKOS SHORE STATION NEAR THE CITY.

    THE YOUNG MONARCH MET HIS NEW PRIME MINISTER, MR. ATHANASSIADES - NOVAS, AT THE CEREMONY, BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THEY DISCUSSED THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS. AFTER REVIEWING THE GUARD-OF-HONOUR, KING CONSTANTINE PRESENTED THE DIPLOMAS TO OFFICERS OF THE ARMED SERVICES WHO HAD ATTENDED A COURSE ON NAVAL AND COMBINED OPERATIONS TACTICS AT THE SCHOOL.

    IT IS KNOWN THAT BETWEEN RETURNING FROM HIS SUMMER RESIDENCE ON THE ISLAND OF CORFU AND ATTENDING THE BOTANIKOS CEREMONY, KING CONSTANTINE DID MEET HIS POLITICAL ADVISER, MR. CONSTANTINE HOIDAS. THE COMING WEEK WILL SEE A ONE-DAY GENERAL STRIKE IN ATHENS ON TUESDAY; A TEST FOR MR. NOVAS' NEW GOVERNMENT ON THURSDAY; AND, A THREAT OF FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS IN ATHENS, THE SUBURBS AND IN PIRAEUS.

    TO COUNTER THE THREATENED GENERAL STRIKE, THE GOVERNMENT ARE SAID TO HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE SUPPLIES OF POWER AND FOOD AND COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

    HOWEVER, THURSDAY MAY SEE THE CLIMAX TO THE CRISIS WHEN MR. NOVAS SEEKS PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL FOR HIS GOVERNMENT. HE WILL SEEK A MAJORITY AMONG HIS OWN CENTRE UNION PARTY -- TO WHICH OUSTED PREMIER PAPANDREOU BELONGS -- WHICH HAS 173 SEATS IN THE 300 SEAT CHAMBER.
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