August 25, 1955
RUMORS OF A COUP: Rumors to the effect that some military officers were… preparing to overturn the government led to meetings of nearly all opposition parties, which issued a number of statements. Liberals – George Papandreou: «…Factions are scheming against free institutions in order to ensure their own personal goals. The Liberal Party… considers it its duty to warn anyone who might be considering such action that the entire Greek nation will rise up to thwart them.» EPEK – Savvas Papapolitis: «…Military-political officials… have recently been engaging in activity aimed at achieving their unpatriotic and sinister goals.» The intensification of these efforts has been attributed to the illness of the Prime Minister, Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos, who has virtually ceased exercising his duties. United Democratic Left (EDA) – Ioannis Pasalidis: «The parties should not only condemn any attempt at a coup but already existing deviations from the political system.» Meanwhile the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mr Panayiotis Kanellopoulos made the following statement: «…I assure the Greek people that rumors of certain intentions by the military leadership… are absolutely unfounded.»
