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

DOI: doi.org/10.52903/ccrd.d4.2019

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 This book, however, brings to light another – hitherto unpublished – memorandum of his, written in the summer of 1946, wherein he attempts to describe Greece’s principal economic, political and social problems.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Unpublished documents, confidential reports, business letters and personal testimonies co-exist in the new publication series of the Bank of Greece, which showcases the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 Each book focuses on a historical event, a critical period or an important person, which are illuminated by unpublished archival documents.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.