Note 40 — Chapter IV · ALTERNATIVE AIMS IN MONETARY POLICY

Whilst the Conference of Genoa (April 1922) affirmed the doctrine in general, representatives of the countries chiefly affected were united in declaring that it must not be applied to them in particular. Signor Peano, M. Picard, and M. Theunis, speaking on behalf of Italy, France, and Belgium, announced, each for his own country, that they would have nothing to do with devaluating, and were determined to restore their respective currencies to their pre-war values. Reform is not likely to come by joint, simultaneous action. The experts of Genoa recognised this when they “ventured to suggest” that “a considerable service will be rendered by that country which first decides boldly to set the example of securing immediate stability in terms of gold” by devaluation.