The city of Nicosia in Cyprus was divided by the “Green Line”, which was etched onto a map of the Cypriot capital by Major General Peter Young, the commander of the British peace force. After stationing his troops in the Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking neighborhoods of Nicosia, General Young used a green chinagraph pencil to etch a wide cease-fire line to create a buffer zone along Ermou Street, with a lone border crossing at Ledra Street. The section to the south was reserved for the Greek Cypriot residents in Nicosia, while the area north of the street was reserved for the Turkish Cypriots, and went by the Turkish exonym for the capital, Lefkoşa. A fence would later be erected to separate the two zones, and continued to exist more than fifty years later.
The government of Greece plunges deeper into domestic crisis while struggling to maintain a solid front in the conflict between Turks and Greeks in Cyprus. King Paul appeals to the leaders of the two major political parties to agree on a solution but both refuse.
West Berliners in cars and afoot stream thru the Berlin Wall in record numbers — estimated at 160,000 — as East and West Berlin officials ponder moves to keep open the paths through the wall after the January 5 closing date. Communist guards processing the large throng regained their holiday smiles, missing since the Christmas day slaying of a teenage East German refugee. The crowds today more than doubled yesterday’s record and raised the total number of West Berliners who have taken advantage of the Christmas pass agreement to 400,000. Yesterday 100,000 made applications at the 12 permit offices in the western sectors for visits before the wall is closed again next Sunday.
However, both the West Berlin senate and the communist East German government have indicated readiness to conclude similar agreements after the present one expires Sunday. The East German Communists have made it plain that they expect broader official contacts with West Berlin through which they can obtain more than the limited de facto recognition the present permit scheme implies. West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt, who is said to be on a family holiday in Norway, in a West Berlin newspaper today hailed the Christmas pass agreement as a little step forward after years of retreating.
President Johnson and Chancellor Ludwig Erhard of West Germany agreed today at the conclusion of two days of talks that there should be no arrangement between the communist bloc and the western allies which would perpetuate a divided Germany. The two chiefs-of-government declared the determination of their countries to defend “the basic rights and interests of the free nations.”
President Johnson and Erhard agreed further that it is important to continue to explore all possibilities for improvement of relations between Russia and the western nations. Erhard, who succeeded Konrad Adenauer as chancellor October 15, met with President Johnson for a series of discussions yesterday and today at the chief executive’s Texas ranch. This was President Johnson’s first formal discussion with the leader of a major foreign nation since he took office five weeks ago. Before boarding a jet at Bergstom Air Force Base for his return to Bonn, Erhard told reporters that there was “full agreement between President Johnson and myself” on major international issues. He said West Germany and the United States have “no hard and fast plans” to reach new understandings with Russia.
The charred hulk of the Greek luxury liner Lakonia, burned at sea with a heavy loss of lives, sinks in 13,200 feet of water as it is being towed to shore. The skipper of the salvage operation says the Lakonia, 260 miles southwest of Gibraltar, tilted bow first into the air and slipped stern first under the waves of the Atlantic.
Prince Norodom Sihanouk, chief of state, charges that the United States opposes Cambodian neutrality. He threatens to sign a formal alliance with Red China, who offers Cambodia arms. He says that unless the west guarantees Cambodian neutrality, “We will be obliged to renounce our neutrality and negotiate a formal alliance with China.”
Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home predicts 1964 will be a good year for Britain and for the world. He voices a belief that the west is nearing genuine co-existence with the communist bloc, and that the world is on the road to peace. He terms nuclear war “not only morally impossible but physically impossible.” He says he will continue to oppose unilateral disarmament as proposed by the canon of London’s St. Paul’s cathedral.
Communist Bulgaria charged the American Consul in Sofia was implicated in the alleged espionage activities of former diplomat Ivan Georgiev.
Major changes in the financial procedures of the United Nations are recommended in a report by a State Department advisory committee.
The Japanese cabinet approved a $9.04 billion budget for 1964. It will be submitted to the Diet when it convenes on about January 20.
In fighting between Indonesia and Malaya, a Royal Malay Regiment position at Kalabakan, west of Tawau in Sabah, was taken by surprise after KKO forces concealed themselves in nearby swampland. Eight soldiers were killed, including the commander, and 19 wounded.
United States customs agents, using coast guard boats, seize two Cuban exile vessels carrying bombs to a Caribbean rendezvous with a plane, frustrating a plot to attack Fidel Castro’s Havana stronghold. Five Cuban exiles are questioned and released. The leader of the exiles insists the boats were 15 miles offshore when cornered and seized by the customs agents.
Twenty-one people were killed when the 13-story Roosevelt Hotel caught fire in Jacksonville, Florida. Because the fire had started in the hotel ballroom, escape to the ground floor quickly became impossible, but another 14 guests made their way to the hotel roof and were rescued by U.S. Navy helicopters from the Naval Air Stations at Cecil Field and the Jacksonville NAS. One of those rescued was Donna Axum of El Dorado, Arkansas, Miss America 1964, who was here for the Gator Bowl festivities.
Betting in Washington today was that President Johnson will propose a 100-billion-dollar budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1964. The reason for such a whopping figure, biggest in peacetime history, in the face of the new President’s promises of economy in government, would be Johnson’s emphasis on spending for human welfare. Money saved by curtailing funds for the Defense Department, Atomic Energy Commission, post office, Agriculture Department, and other big spenders would go to the Health, Education and Welfare Department, Labor Department, Peace Corps, and other welfare agencies.
President Johnson has stated a primary aim of his administration is the elimination of poverty, which affects 20 percent of the population, according to government estimates. The budget for the current fiscal year, a product of the late President Kennedy’s administration, was 98.8 billion dollars. Actual spending is expected to total 100 billion dollars. The Johnson budget probably will resemble the Kennedy budget, but the money will be distributed in a different manner. Gone will be plans of the departments and agencies to add 75,000 to the payroll. They will be lucky to get along with a net loss of 1,000 jobs.
Money requests which were piling up in the budget bureau when President Kennedy was assassinated have been pared an estimated 2 billion dollars under Johnson’s urging. President Kennedy had made a similar cut in agency requests a year ago and Congress lopped off another 4.5 billion dollars — but the spending total still will be around $100 billion this year. The form which the President’s anti-poverty campaign will take has not been determined. Administration sources say it will be modest at the start, costing in the hundreds of millions rather than in the billions at the start. As a starter, the administration sources said, there probably will be stepped up programs for job-training to combat the problem of technological unemployment. Increased aid to education will back up job training.
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, World War I flying ace, retires as chief executive of Eastern Air Lines to crusade for the American way of life. In a letter to his board of directors, the 73-year-old hero chairman says he wants to help preserve for coming generations the opportunities he has enjoyed. Rickenbacker, an articulate foe of communism, heads an organization known as the Committee for Preservation of the Monroe Doctrine.
A federal narcotics expert warned that seven well-known tranquilizers can cause intoxication and be habit-forming if taken in excess.
A forthcoming satellite program aimed partly at learning the effects of prolonged weightlessness on the brain and behavior may Involve UCLA scientific team.
Some subtle details of the nature of cancers and a possible way to combat the diseases were discussed by scientists at a meeting in Cleveland of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
An estimated 8,000 members of the Transport Workers Union voted overwhelmingly to strike New Year’s Day. Three million people use the facilities daily.
The death of President Kennedy has brought about a massive rejection of extremism in the thinking of the American people.
NFL Championship Game:
The Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants, 14–10, to win the 1963 NFL Championship Game. It is the Giants’ 3rd consecutive championship defeat; the game is played in temperatures under 10 °F (−12 °C). The Giants opened the scoring in the first quarter when Tittle led New York on a 41-yard drive capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford. The drive was set up by Billy Wade’s fumble on the Bears’ 41-yard line, which was recovered by former Bear Erich Barnes. Later in the first period, Larry Morris hit Tittle’s left knee with his helmet as the quarterback threw. The injured Tittle was much less effective for the rest of the game. After Del Shofner failed to hang onto a Tittle pass in the end zone, Morris intercepted Tittle’s screen pass and returned the ball 61 yards to the Giants’ 6-yard line. Two plays later, Wade scored a touchdown on a two-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7—7.
In the second quarter, the Giants retook the lead, 10—7, on a 13-yard field goal. But on New York’s next drive, Tittle reinjured his left knee on another hit by Morris. With Tittle out for two possessions, the Giants struggled, only able to advance 2 yards in 7 plays. Allie Sherman even punted on third down, showing no confidence in backup Glynn Griffing. The score remained 10—7 at halftime.
Tittle came back in the third period, but needed Cortisone, Novocain, and heavy taping and bandaging to continue. For the rest of the game, he was forced to throw off his back foot (poor mechanics for a quarterback). An interception on another screen pass by the Bears’ Ed O’Bradovich was brought deep into Giant territory, setting up Wade’s 1-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 14—10 lead. The score held up, and the Bears iced the game on Richie Petitbon’s interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left. It was Tittle’s 5th interception. Defensive coordinator George Allen was given the game ball due to his defense’s spectacular play. Tittle was held to only 11 completions in 29 attempts, and the Bears’ superior scouting was shown by their success defending against the Giants’ screen passes.
New York Giants 10, Chicago Bears 14
Born:
Sean Payton, American NFL quarterback (Chicago Bears) and head coach (NFL Champions, Super Bowl 44-Saints, 2009, AP Coach of the Year 2006; New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos; ‘Bountygate’), in San Mateo, California.
Mike Teifke, NFL center (Cleveland Browns), in Maumee, Ohio.
Mike Estep, NFL guard (Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers), in Northampton, England, United Kingdom.
Ulf Kristersson, Swedish politician (Prime Minister of Sweden 2022-), in Lund, Sweden.
History Diaries 