Anti-British Riots In Greece

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27435, 23 August 1954, Page 11

Anti-British Riots In Greece

(NJZ. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) ATHENS, August 21. Police using batons fought off repeated attempts by groups of demonstrators to reach the British Embassy in Athens last night, when an estimated 100,000 Athenians surged through the streets demanding enosis—the union of Cyprus with Greece. Police threw cordons round Constitution square to protect the Embassy. Sixty-seven persons, including 27 .police, were injured. The demonstration coincided with a Greek plea to the United Nations to put the Cypnls 'issue on the agenda of. the General Assembly. Britain has recently reaffirmed her sovereignty over Cyprus and is expected to oppose considera-

tion of the question, j There were demonstrations in- Salonika, where 11 persons were injured, and Britain has protested to Greece over the explosion of a stick of dynamite in the garden of the British Consulate in Canea, Crete, during demonstrations there. In Athens, Archbishop Spiridon told the crowds shouting, ‘‘Down with the British,” that Greece’s appeal to. the United Nations gave that organisation a chance to prove whether it was worthy of world expectations. Amid applause he added that Greeks would show once again that material force could not prevail against the love of freedom. "We hope the glorious Churchill will close his political career with action for the liberty and union of Cyprus with GreCTe,” Archbishop Spiridon said. The meeting adopted a motion proclaiming that the Greeks had decided "to fight with all available means" for the liberation of their “Cypriot brothers.” It condemned the “oppressive and tyrannical measures” of the British Government towards Cyprus. Police protected the British Embassy by closing side roads with lorries and strong detachments. The main body of demonstrators eventually dispersed quietly. All Greek towns had hung out flags and arranged mass meetings today while troops, tanks and 6000 police stood by in case of disorder, Action in Cyprus A Nicosia message says the port of Famagusta was plunged into darkness last night when the Government Electricity Authority’s transformer near Famagusta was wrecked. Few details were available, but it was believed to have been an act of sabotage. . The words "enosis and only enosis” are reported to have been painted on the road near the transformer. Archbishop Makarios, of Cyprus, sent a message to the Archbishop of Greece on the occasion of preece’s notification of the enosis dispute with Britain to the United Nations. "We follow with confidence the action of the national Government and await the United Nations decision to grant us justice and freedom. We trust the United Nations, built on the moral ruins of the - last war by the blood of free people, will not fail to give freedom to the pepple of Cyprus, but should justice be ignored the people of Cyprus will not give in.”