May 21, 1954
IONIAN ISLANDS AND CYPRUS: Corfu, 21 – Anti-British demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police occurred today on Corfu after the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Ionian Islands’ reunification with Greece. Thousands of Corfiots, including schoolchildren, held a noisy demonstration through the main streets to the prefecture to hand over a resolution in favor of the union of Cyprus with Greece. The demonstrators, shouting and holding placards reading «Union – Cyprus is Greek – Long Live Union,» were met by a large contingent of police who used their clubs but did not manage to drive back the crowd of thousands. The prefect, after receiving the resolution, asked them to disperse. The demonstrators, however, went on to the Cathedral where they were again confronted by a strong police force. Fresh scuffles occurred before the crowd was finally able to move on to the Monument to the Fallen, where wreaths were laid. It was then that anti-British protests were held, which led to further intervention by the police. A group of protesters forced a clerk at the Ionian Bank to take down the British flag; another group attacked the car of the British vice consul and smashed its windows.
