50 Years Ago Today
PEACE MEASURES: Prime Minister Sophocles Venizelos, referring to the measures for peace approved by himself and by Nikolaos Plastiras, said that the EPEK leader had accepted the second proposal by the Liberals on the issue. With some small mutual concessions, it would lead to a compromise between the two parties. The decision was for the abolition of emergency court martials, with cases already judged according to the provisions of law 509 to be referred from now on to five-member appeals courts. Secondly, all death sentences are to be commuted to life sentences. In exceptional cases, convicts or exiles are to be examined by a special mixed committee of judges and police officers, instead of being granted amnesty according to category. The measures are to go into effect by means of a special law which is to be voted by Parliament right after it opens its new session. CONCERNS: Many Liberal deputies believe that the agreement with the EPEK party on the peace measures are not in their party’s interest because it will lead to the release from prison of communists who are a danger to public security. At least 9,500 people will be released under the plan.
