April 13, 1954
CENTER: Circles close to the new leader of the Liberal Party, Mr George Papandreou, did not conceal their satisfaction – nor that of their leader – yesterday at the cohesion and discipline the Liberals displayed following the resignation of Mr Sophocles Venizelos from the party leadership. Mr Papandreou has asked that a denial be issued regarding a report in an afternoon newspaper yesterday that the Liberal former ministers, Messrs Politis, Kassimatis, Mavros, Varvoutis and Mitsotakis met and exchanged thoughts on the situation after the resignation of Mr Venizelos. It was confirmed that this meeting in fact did take place, but on the eve of the announcement of Mr Venizelos’s resignation at the home of Mr I. Politis. The abovementioned circles close to Mr Papandreou, referring to a statement from the Democratic Party that Mr Papandreou’s assumption of the leadership of the Liberals has made cooperation between the democratic forces more difficult, said that if cooperation had been facilitated between the democratic forces and the United Democratic Left, naturally the Liberals would not become involved.
