[Enclosure—Translation]
Aide-Mémoire by the Greek Ministry for Foreign
Affairs
Greece sincerely appreciates all efforts which are or may be made in the
international domain, with a view to the strengthening of economic
stability and security in the world by means of a gradual return to
freedom of trade.
The more by reason of its economic structure, Greece has always felt the
need of such liberty, and its interests were the first to be injured by
the introduction of restrictive systems in the different countries.
Consequently, it is only as a means of defense that, in spite of itself,
Greece was forced in its turn to follow this path which, in its view,
should constitute only a transitory situation. Thus it can but approve
the efforts which are made to escape gradually.
However, the Greek Government does not envisage this possibility except
within the framework of an international movement tending to the
reestablishment of a free play of economic factors as a whole. Thus, if
one wishes to arrive at lasting practical results in the domain of world
economy, it would not be possible, in its view, to consider solely the
free exchange of the results of production, that is to say, of
merchandise, and neglect the factors of production, such as labor and
capital. It is in the free play of a combination of all these factors
together that the Royal Government sees the means of overcoming the
economic difficulties which now weigh upon international life.
Thus it would be ready to collaborate, in this sense, in a collective
effort aiming to create the necessary conditions for the reestablishment
of a normal economic situation in the world.
[Athens, August 20, 1937.]
