1. Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Georgios POLYDORAKIS
Expert Counsellor
Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives
Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
International Conference of Editors of Diplomatic Documents
Washington DC, April 2015

2. The Library of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3. with current diplomatic documents published by the Greek State
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
21 volumes
with current diplomatic documents
published by the Greek State
( 1833 – 1910)

4. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Questions
Why did the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs publish those volumes?
2. What were their main characteristics and themes and how do they differ from today’s publications?
3. Were there other similar publications world-wide at the same period?
4. Do these volumes qualify as “publications of diplomatic documents” and therefore is it worth talking about them in these Conferences?

5. with current diplomatic documents published by the Greek State
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
More than
70 volumes
with current diplomatic documents
published by the Greek State
( 1833 – 1970s)

6. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

7. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

8. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

9. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

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14. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

15. G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation

16. 1. Public opinion was greatly interested
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Conclusions: WHY?
1. Public opinion was greatly interested
2. The government wanted to present its views in the most official way
3. Lack of strict rules of classification, security and document management
4. Documents submitted to the Parliament

17. Conclusions: SOME CHARACTERISTICS
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Conclusions: SOME CHARACTERISTICS
Thematic
Current issues
Uniformity in format?
Language: Greek, French or both
No introductory notes
no annotations of any kind
no responsible editor
no table of contents or a list of the documents

18. Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
FRANCE

19. Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
UNITED KINGDOM

20. Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
OTTOMAN EMPIRE

21. Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Conclusions: OTHER COUNTRIES?
UNITED STATES

22. Do these volumes qualify as “publications of diplomatic documents”?
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Conclusions
Do these volumes qualify as “publications of diplomatic documents”?

23. Thank you for your attention !!
G. Polydorakis Opening Closed Doors: Early Greek Diplomatic Documentation
Thank you for your attention !!
Georgios Polydorakis