Crisis And Renewal In Twentieth Century Banking: Exploring The History And Archives Of Banking At Times Of Political And Social Stress

摘要

These papers, presented at the twelfth meeting of the EABH in Ljubljana, are concerned with the topic of banking in continental Europe in the twentieth century. The objective was that the meeting should be the ante and the after in the history of European banking in hard times. So the absence of major banking systems should have been expounded in the introduction. Nevertheless the three editors' attempt to show that banking history must open new territories is fully commendable. The first part begins with three papers about the coming of foreign banks to Russia after 1917. It starts with an analysis by John Orbell of the activity of Baring, the Russian financial agent in Britain until 1917. It is a distinct narrative of the British Treasury policy regarding the financial cost of furnishing and paying for the Russian army ammunitions. The central role of Lord Revelstoke and of Baring's officers is well expounded. The paper by Sergueie Lebedev is revelatory of the uncertainties and improvisations in the management of financial matters by the new power. Based on the works by Ananic'h and Bovykin as well on recent investigation, this commendable paper helps us to understand many of the problems described by a number of scholars. Catherine Potier's participation belongs to a different category. Since Rene Girault, this is the first thorough investigation in the French banks' archives on the subject. Such precise information is essential, given the French interests at stake.