MARCH 18-19, 1952
PAPAGOS AGAINST TSALAKOTOS: General Alexandros Papagos, in a speech to Parliament last night, accused the Plastiras government of being responsible for the dangerous upheaval in the armed forces. After fiercely condemning the peace measures under consideration, he asked that Parliament hold a vote of confidence in the government. The general’s revelations regarded the role of certain senior officers (Army Chief of Staff Thrasyvoulos Tsalakotos) whom he accused of ruining the reputation of the armed forces, with the support of the government. Papagos also condemned the military leadership and its actions that were counterproductive to discipline and charged that the defense minister (Admiral Sakellariou) and all the other political leaders were not only aware of the existence of IDEA (an organization of military officers who staged a mutiny after Papagos resigned as commander-in-chief in 1951) but had repeatedly been in contact with officers representing the group.
