Selection: Michalis Katsigeras

NATIONAL-BANK OF ATHENS MERGER: The banking system was finally restored to order yesterday and the government plan to merge the National Bank and the Bank of Athens went ahead as the first, decisive step in reorganizing the country’s banking system. National Bank staff, after receiving the government’s assurance that they would not be affected by the merger, began returning to work this morning after a 14-day strike. The decision was made last night at a joint meeting of the board of the General Confederation of Greek Workers and the councils of the banks’ staff unions. TRIPARTITE: London, 22 - The official Yugoslav news agency has announced that Field Marshal Tito said that cooperation between Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey was no threat to anyone. DISTRIBUTION OF BEANS: The distribution of 200 drams (640 grams) of beans has been ordered per person in the capital for the month of January at 2,400 drachmas per ration in exchange for coupon No. 4. COUPON ABOLITION: The trade undersecretary, Mr Panagis Papaligouras, in view of the February 1 abolition of state ration coupons, stated that the government would stamp out any profiteering during the transition to free trade. FREDERIKI: Her Majesty the Queen sent a congratulatory message to the new president of the USA, Mr Dwight Eisenhower, on the occasion of his inauguration.