June 16-19, 1953
‘IDEA’ MOVEMENT: In reference to letters published in anti-government newspapers by Lt. Gen. (ret.) Grigoropoulos, the former commander of the Chiefs of Staff, and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Tsakalotos, former Army Chief of Staff, reliable government and military sources have made the following statements: «The claims by Lt. Gen. Grigoropoulos regarding his responsibilities for the lack of action on the night of May 30, 1951, are (…) incorrect. Grigoropoulos says that the first he heard of the officers’ (belonging to the IDEA movement) mutiny was at 5 a.m. the next morning. This is not true, for the former commander of the chiefs of staff was telephoned at his home in Pangrati at 3.30 a.m. by an unknown person who told him to «take precautions and not to be at home to anyone who might come looking for him.» Instead of rushing at once to the (Old) Palace (Ed. note: which at the time served as army headquarters), Grigoropoulos simply informed Lt. Gen. Balodimos who, at about 5 a.m., reported back to him on the officers’ mutiny. Yet he still remained at home, giving orders by telephone. Finally, when he was informed that Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos was on his way to Athens, he left his house – long after 5 a.m. – for his office, where he displayed unprecedented moderation.
