Greek Constitution To Be Rewritten

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 19

Greek Constitution To Be Rewritten

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) ATHENS, May 9. Greece’s military Government announced last night that a new constitution would be submitted to a national referendum, and afterwards there would be General Elections for a return to Parliamentary democracy.

The Interior Minister, Brigadier-Gen-eral Stylianos Patakos, told reporters in Athens that a 20member committee of jurists had been set up to draft the new Constitution in cooperation with the Government. He said they would abolish or amend various articles in the previous Constitution including “those articles which gave the politicians the opportunity to make so many mistakes in the past” Brigadier Patakos, considered to be the secondranking figure in the group which seized power last month, said most of those detained for political offences would be released eventually.

“We shall release those who will promise to be good Greeks and keep quiet We can trust their word for that” he said.

On Saturday the new military regime suspended scheduled elections for mayers and municipal councils. Link Denied The former Greek Prime Minister, Mr George Papandreou, said last night a letter published in the press linking him with the “Aspida” treason case was a forgery. The country’s new military regime authorised the Greek press to publish Mr Papandreou’s denial. Newspapers printed over the week-end a copy of a letter dated May 2, 1965, alleged to have been sent by the Centre Union Party leader to a Greek officer now serving an 18-year

sentence for his connexion with the “Aspida” plot. Part of the published letter said. “On my part, I give whatever may be needed for Aspida." Fifteen Army officers re-

ceived prison sentences ranging from two to 18 years from a military court last March for plotting to overthrow the Government and establish a non-aligned policy for the country. Their group was called “Aspida” (the shield). British Attitude Athens Radio said that the British Government had “accepted with understanding the recent Government change in Greece,” according to the Associated Press.

The announcement, in a news bulletin, said there had been a formal meeting between the British Ambassador to Athens, Sir Ralph Murray, and the new Greek Prime Minister, Mr Constantine Kolias. It was the Ambassador’s first formal call on the Greek Prime Minister since the takeover on April 21. The announcement said Sir Ralph Murray congratulated the Prime Minister on the assumption of his duties. “Sir Ralph informed Mr Kolias that the British Government has accepted with understanding the recent Government change in Greece,” the radio announcement said. The Government-controlled radio said that a British Labour M.P., Mr Francis Noel Baker, also paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister and congratulated him on the assumption of his duties.

No More Arrests.—The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office today announced there would be no further arrest of politicians for irregularities during the campaign for last week’s Presidential election in which President Chung-hee Park was elected for a second term. —Seoul, May 9.