1 - BRETTON WOODS AND AFTER, APRIL 1944–MARCH 1946

Summary

After publication of the Joint Statement, Keynes had two meetings with M.P.s on the proposals. He reported their results to the Chancellor's Private Secretary on 28 April.

To T. PADMORE, 28 April 1944

THE MONETARY PROPOSALS

After long discussions with the two groups of M.P.'s I find very little sign of definite opposition. I think there will be a good many questions asked and cautions raised, and certainly an atmosphere of hesitation in some quarters, but very little decided opposition. The upshot would be I should say a clear general view in favour of going ahead in spite of this and that.

At the Conservative group, which included Mr. Hammersley, Sir Alfred Beit, Sir Arnold Gridley, Sir Irving Albery, Sir Archibald Southby, Mr. Spearman, and Mr. Robert Boothby, all ended the evening decidedly in favour, with the exception of Boothby. His arguments produced no impression whatever on his friends and were somewhat a matter of derision towards the end of the evening. I had the impression that Sir Alfred Beit, Sir Arnold Gridley, Sir Archibald Southby and Mr. Spearman were strongly in favour, and Mr. Hammersley and Sir Irving Albery also reasonably happy about it. Beit will, I think, make a speech saying that just as he was opposed to preference concessions, so, on the other hand, he is entirely in favour of a currency move forward along these lines.