Eighty years ago this week Britain prepares for post-war financial stability and Stalin prepares for civil war in Greece

 

The British government published a White Paper with details of the proposal to create an International Monetary Fund to prevent a recurrence of the financial tensions and instability which had dogged the world economy in the inter-war years. The White Paper was a victory for John Maynard Keynes, who led the British side in the negotations and took an enlightened, forward-thinking view. He had to overcome opposition from reactionaries, notably Lord Beaverbrook,  who deluded themselves that it would be possible to restore an imaginary British financial dominance of world trade.

Stalin was already making his plans to dominate the Balkans. The sailors on five ships of the Greek navy staged a mutiny to press for greater representation in the government-in-exile of the Communist EAM grouping. The government recalled Admiral Voulgaris from retirement to be commander in chief of the navy and he organized the violent suppression of the mutiny. A Greek army brigade also mutinied in Egypt.

General de Gaulle followed up on his final victory over his rival as leader of the Free French, General  Giraud, with a decree bringing France into line with most other European countries by giving the vote to all adult women. It remained only to liberate the country to put the measure into effect.