‘DEMOCRACY’ TIMETABLE Athens Refuses To Comment

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31504, 19 October 1967, Page 17

‘DEMOCRACY’ TIMETABLE Athens Refuses To Comment

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) ATHENS, October 18. Officials in Athens yesterday declined to comment on a statement issued by the Greek Embassy in Washington on Monday announcing an “irrevocable” timetable for return to Parliamentary democracy in Greece.

Spokesmen for both the Foreign and Press Ministries said that they could not elaborate on the announcement which was made by Mr Christian XanthopoulosPalamas, the Greek Ambassador in Washington. Mr Palamas outlined a fourstage official timetable, including a constitutional referendum to be held next August. Despite the fact that Mr Palamas is one of Greece’s most respected Ambassadors, there was no reference to his statement in any of the Greek or English language newspapers published in Athens yesterday. Observers in Athens inter-

preted this to mean that the statement was intended mainly for foreign consumption, to improve the image of the present military Government. Members of the ruling junta are acutely sensitive to what they consider to have been constant and exaggerated attacks on them since they seized power last April. The Greek Government has pledged that a new constitution will be ready by December 15, and that a referendum will be held sometime next year followed by General Elections. No dates have been mentioned either for the referendum or the elections.