July 4, 1955
KARAMANLIS AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST: It has been reported that the Minister for Transport and Public Works Mr Constantine Karamanlis, in a letter to the prime minister, Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos, has submitted his resignation. According to the same sources, Mr Karamanlis refused to sign a contract for the supply of telecommunications equipment from the German firm Siemens, as he considered that certain terms of the contract were not in the best interest of the Greek state. As soon as the letter was sent, Mr Karamanlis left Athens without making a statement. Rumors circulated that Papagos had sent the director of his Political Bureau, Mr Alestan, to go and find Mr Karamanlis, who had set sail for Epidaurus on a yacht owned by Parliament Speaker Constantine Rodopoulos. Yesterday afternoon a government source denied the rumor that Mr Karamanlis had handed in his resignation. EMIGRATION: Labor Minister Mr Stratos has announced that about 700 workers have been sent to Belgium, chiefly to work in the coal mines for satisfactory wages. Another 3,800 workers are to follow.