Selection: Michalis Katsigeras

NATIONAL PRODUCTIVE LOAN: The finance minister, Mr Constantine Papayiannis, tabled a bill in Parliament yesterday “on a national productive loan to the value of 300 million drachmas (new issue) or $10 million. The loan, which will be made available for public subscription from June 9 to 19, will be of a seven-year duration and will have an interest rate of 5 percent.” FRENCH DEMANDS: What on earth is this story of the French state tax company that is asking for payment of 200 billion francs for lighthouse installations it carried out on Greek coasts before the War of Independence? The commission had been given by the Ottoman rulers — 150 years ago — and we are now being called upon to pay, without having inherited the Sultan’s treasures. God help us if some Italian company tries to claim compensation for the Hadrian’s Arch aqueduct! CYPRUS: London, 12 - A pro-Greek voice in favor of Cyprus’s union with Greece and negotiations between the British and the Greek governments was heard today in the House of Commons from a Labor Party MP. However, the response from British Secretary of State Selwyn Lloyd was negative.