March 19, 1953
EMERGENCY CONTRIBUTION: The prime minister, Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos, last night addressed the following message to the Greek people: «The government is determined to secure the country’s economic stability and growth, along with the fullest exploitation of American aid. (…) For the rest of this economic year – that is until June 30 of this year – and in order to guarantee the necessary balance of payments, Greeks are being called upon to make their own contribution. An exception will be made for farmers, workers, small business owners, and pensioners, of course, as although they are worthy of the honor of helping their country, the Motherland recognizes the particular circumstances which should make them exempt. The government would dearly like to make the same exemption for civil servants, whose difficult financial circumstances it indeed recognizes. However, the concept of civil service and the kind of sacrifice being called for are so closely linked, that giving up just part of their Easter bonus is indeed a very small sacrifice. (…)» JOURNALISM AND STALIN: Since 1926, the newspapers have unofficially «killed off» Joseph Stalin, who died on March 5, a total of five times. Also, various newswires referred to him as having died in 1930, as having suffered a stroke in 1929 and as about to retire from politics for health reasons in 1945.
