July 28-29, 1953
DEATH OF PLASTIRAS: The leader of the EPEK party, General Nikolaos Plastiras, died at 3.30 p.m. on Sunday (July 26) at his home in Psychico, after lingering for 16 days and suffering repeated heart attacks. His remains, which have been embalmed, have been taken to Athens Cathedral to lie in state. He will be given a state funeral with prime ministerial honors, to be held tomorrow afternoon. The king himself will attend. Yesterday morning the prime minister, Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos, went to the late prime minister’s home in Psychico to pay the deceased his respects. COMMENTARY: «(…) When history judges Nikolaos Plastiras, even considering his attempted coups against law and order in 1933 and 1935, it would be difficult to deny his personal honor and patriotism. In all his actions, including those which we believe to have been wrong as well as those that were undoubtedly correct, his motives were always unselfish. (…) As he departs this life, the Greek people, irrespective of their political beliefs, pay due respect to the brave soldier, the sincere human being and the well-intentioned politician.» FARMERS OF KOPAIS: Farmers’ associations of the region of Kopais have issued a resolution asking for the final distribution of machinery for farms.