280 FOREIGN TRADE ZONES However, the Greek free-zone authorities have given the Yugoslav zone permission to handle directly within its area certain commodities destined for Yugoslav State Monopolies, and other bulky material which the Greek free zone can not for the time being handle adequately. within its own limits. Complete details regarding the Yugoslav traffic through the Yugoslav and Greek free zones are contained in subsequent sections of this report. (See sections on traffic in the Greek free zone.) Comments on the effective handling of the Yugoslav trade through the Greek zone will be found in the section of this report entitled “Progress of the Greek free zone during the first two years of its speration.”’ ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF GREEK FREE ZONE The idea of a Greek free zone originated with the Venizelos Ministry which, after the annexation of Saloniki and its hinterland to Greece, brought about the passage of the necessary legislation (Law.No. 390, of December 17, 1914) authorizing the creation of such a zone. A subsequent decree fixing the limits. of the free zone was issued on September 28, 1915. During the period of the European War the organization of the zone was held in abeyance. However, in June, 1920, the Ministry of Finance instructed the Government General of Macedonia to cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Association of Saloniki for the purpose of designating the part of the port to be set aside for the free zone, and to present an estimate of costs. In February, 1923, the Chamber of Commerce of Saloniki submitted to the ministry the opinions of the commercial world in regard to the free zone and on February 15, 1923, a decree was signed bringing into effect article 14 of legislative decree concerning the amendment of Law 390 of December 17, 1914, creating the free zone of Saloniki. Under this decree a legal entity, the “Commissariat of the Free Zone of Saloniki,” was created for the purpose of organizing and operating the free zone of Saloniki. The commissariat lost no time in organizing the free zone and preparing the regulations governing its administration. The original regulations have been partly modified by decrees dated March 21, 1925, and October 5, 1925. On the other hand, the limits of the free zone have been fixed by a decree of June 30, 1923, and modified subsequently by a decree of February 5, 1924. The inauguration of the free zone took place on October 18, 1925. The next day the free zone opened its doors to the transit trade. LOCATION OF THE GREEK FREE ZONE The Greek free zone includes practically the whole of the developed portion of the port of Saloniki, as well as an unimproved portion