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Archive (Walters MSS)

Economy: Alan Walters diary (exchange controls) [Wakeham accommodating to Walters “Yellow Peril” arguments; George proposes exchange controls][released 2012]

Document type: Declassified documents
Source: Walters MSS (Churchill Archives Centre): WTRS 3/1/2
Editorial comments: Read other entries from this diary. View all Walters documents. The original diary can be studied here
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 134
Themes: Monetary policy, Taxation

Monday 29th November 1982

Tremors on Foreign Exchange Mkts but soon firmed up

M. Marc - Frenchman

Phoned Paddie [Paddie Walters]

Lawrence Prest + Co

John Wakeham on Yellow Peril - very accommodating to my arguments - particularly on withdrawing completely the upstream loan measures - since they couldn’t be identified in tax avoidance terms

Eddie G [Eddie George] + Peter M [Peter Middleton] - drop depositories for int + divi - Exchange Rate held and Interbank at 10½ just at limit of threat to Base Rates

EG said one way to stop flight of £ on election was to introduce exchange controls!! - trying it out

I told Eddie about Charles Goodhart (but not naming him) telling Marty Feldstein that we were on an exchange rate target - He protested but reported it