Title:
I hellenikè ikonomikè katàstasi. Ypòmnima
pros ton Yfipourgò exoterikòn Dean
Acheson, 1946
[The Greek economic situation.
Memorandum to the Undersecretary of
State Dean Acheson, 1946] in Greek
Series: TEKMIRIA apo to Istoriko Archeio
[DOCUMENTS from the Historical Archives]
Author: Kyriakos Varvaressos
Introduction: Sotiris Rizas
Publisher: Bank of Greece (Centre for
Culture, Research and Documentation )
Year of publication: 2019
Number of pages: 232
Dimensions: 24 x 15 cm
Book type: History
ISBN: 978-960-703 2-95-9
Central Distribution
a. National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation
(ΜΙΕΤ) in Athens (13 Amerikis Str., tel.: +30 210
3614143) and Thessaloniki (11 Tsimiski Str., tel.: +30
2310 288036)
b. Ι. Nikolopoulos & Co. SA – Ekdoseis tou
Eikostou Protou (9 Ζaloggou Str., Athens, tel.: +30
210 3800520).
About the book
Kyriakos Varvaressos is best known for his famous “Report on the Greek economic
problem”, which he wrote in 1952. This book, however, brings to light another – hitherto
unpublished – memorandum of his, written in the summer of 1946, wherein he attempts
to describe Greece’s principal economic, political and social problems. Drafted with the
help of his invaluable assistant, Rena Zafiriou, at the direct request of Dean Acheson, then
Undersecretary of State in the Truman administration, the memorandum was
confidential, aimed at encouraging the provision of American aid to Greece.
At a time when the world was sliding from the Second World War to the Cold war, Greece
was on a similar precipice, financially crippled and hurtling toward civil war. The
memorandum is a record of opposing trends, issues at stake and political and economic
developments – as well as alternatives that might have been available, but did not
transpire.
You can see the original Memorandum here.
About the series “Documents from the Historical Archives”
of the Bank of Greece
Unpublished documents, confidential reports, business letters and personal testimonies
co-exist in the new publication series of the Bank of Greece, which showcases the
richness of its Historical Archives. Each book focuses on a historical event, a critical period
or an important person, which are illuminated by unpublished archival documents.
Specialised scientists select, combine and comment on the archival material, helping the
reader to navigate through the sources and to experience his own, unmediated contact
with the raw matter of history.