Daily News (London) - Tuesday 06 May 1958

 Malta wants Onassis, but he's still happy at Monte Carlo 

(John London)


"When I telephoned Aristotle Onassis the Greek shipping millionaire in New York yesterday to tell him that people in Malta are looking to him as their economic saviour, he burst into a roar of laughter. He declared 'It's the first time I've ever heard a suggestion like this'. 

All the same, the George Cross islanders are enthusiastic about the idea that Mr Onassis should move the headquarters of his tanker fleet from Monte Carlo and thereby ease Malta's economic problems. 

An editorial in the newspaper Voice of Truth, declares 'Onassis should be invited to Malta by the Governor, Sir Robert Laycock, who is one of the best hosts we have ever had. They can get together and discuss the question with our political leaders'. 

No one, however, has so far invited the King of the Seven Seas. In fact he told me: 'I'd had no knowledge that anybody thought that way there'. 

Presumably, the Maltese began to get excited when it was rumoured that Mr Onassis was thinking of abandoning his Rivera head quarters from which he controls his fleet. 

'They are all wrong,' he told me firmly. 'I like Monte Carlo - and I intend to stay'

Certainly the shipping magnate would use Malta if the right facilities were available there. 'There was talk of the island improving its repair facilities for ships and the commercial dockyard," he said. 'That was two years ago and still nothing has happened'.

Mr Onassis told me that he was in America to launch a new 46,000 ton tanker. And he added, "I'll be glad to let you know when I get that invitation from Malta" 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Mirror - Monday 20 September 1982

Why Ari Onassis had to leave Monaco... It was recalled in one of the papers at the weekend how Princess Grace had dislodged from Monaco in the early days one of the principalities most powerful unwanted figures, Aristotle Onassis.  What was not included was the following thus far unrecorded story of how Grace and Onassis first met.  Onassis, who had an immense financial stake in the tiny country and who had certainly more effective influence than Prince Rainier, was given to inviting any visiting celebrity on to his yacht in the harbour.  In the mid-fifties Cary Grant went to Monaco to make the Alfred Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief.  His co-star, of course, was Grace Kelly, who was later during that visit to meet her future husband, Rainier.  "Come and have lunch", said Onassis to Grant.  The actor duly turned up with Grace who, for the occasion, had her hair swept rather severely back and was wearing glasses.  After the meal Onassis showed them ashor...
Read more

Portsmouth Evening News - Saturday 05 January 1957

Airlines for Mr. Onassis   "The Greek Parliament has passed a Bill ratifying an agreement signed on July 31 between the Greek state and Mr Aristotle Onassis granting him a 20 year concession to run and exploit local airlines and build up a network of air communications between Greece and the main air traffic centres of the world.  The Bill provides for the formation of a company with an investment of about 15,000.000 dollars (£5,000.000).  One of the first steps which Mr Onassis is expected to adopt is the replacing of all the outmoded equipment of T.A.E (the defunct Greek airlines) and the purchase of a number of new aircraft - Reuter".  
Read more