February 11, 1956
EMMANOUIL TSOUDEROS: Emmanouil Tsouderos, whose death in Italy has been announced, was for about half a century one of the central figures in Greek political and economic life. A close personal friend of Eleftherios Venizelos from the Cretan statesman’s early days in politics, he began his own career in the sector of economics, where he gave many indications of his abilities, which were widely recognized. As governor of the Bank of Greece he provided valuable services… His actions as leader of the first government-in-exile after Greece was occupied in 1941 led to many, and not always positive, comments. However, even his strongest critics never doubted his good intentions and his pure patriotism… The prime minister, Mr Constantine Karamanlis, when informed of Tsouderos’s death, gave instructions for an aircraft to be sent to bring back the deceased’s remains and that he be given the honors due to a serving prime minister. However, because the deceased left written instructions expressing his wish not to be awarded honors, his funeral will be held at the state’s expense, but without the honors due to him.
