July 30, 1954
AMERICAN DETERMINATION: London, 26 – American airplanes have shot down two Chinese fighter planes off the coast of Hainan. This is the second chapter in the dramatic story of the British passenger plane shot down by the Chinese Communists on July 23, killing 18 people. London is greatly concerned at this latest development, whose possible consequences are not yet known. Washington, however, appears to be taking a ruthless stance and has approved the pilots’ actions. According to reports, they were defending themselves against a small group of Communist fighter jets that attacked them with air-to-air anti-aircraft guns. Neither of the American planes was hit. Considering the current stage of US-Chinese relations, it was only natural for the US guns to fire automatically when faced with the Chinese planes, according to an American diplomat. GEORGE PAPANDREOU: Patras, 28 – The leader of the Liberals, Mr George Papandreou, made the following statement today on arrival in Patras from his home village of Kalentzi: “All classes of the people are suffering and that is the result of two years of government by the Greek Rally party.”
