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University College, Oxford.—Hopes that Pethick-Lawrence will be able to join the party going to Russia (see 1/164). The aim is to learn more about the problems of introducing a socialist system, with emphasis on public and industrial finance.

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University College, Oxford
16/1/32

Dear Pethick Lawrence,

I was very pleased to get your note, and I very much hope you will be able to go with the party to Russia. I am afraid that, for reasons of health, I shall not be able to go myself; {1} but there will be Leslie, Dalton, probably Cuttall, {2} C. M. Lloyd, Leonard Woolf, Susan Lawrence, H. L. Beales, possibly Somerville Hastings, and one or two others, in addition to Harben. The aim is to make a thorough study, over two months or more, with particular relation to the light thrown on the problems of introducing a Socialist system, and with emphasis on public and industrial finance. Starting late June or early July, and splitting up for investigations. I am in touch with the Soviet Embassy & Moscow now about facilities.

I am away in Oxford for the next week; but C. M. Lloyd or Leslie could tell you all about it, or I could, when I get back. You have, however, most of the information, except that, as soon as we get the group together, and can see our way with Moscow and with enough money to ensure the visit, we want to take on a Russian-speaking secretary and start seriously on preliminary work. But for that we are still trying to raise funds here and get Moscow’s agreement to the visit.

Yours sincerely
G. D. H. Cole

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{1} Cole had recently been found to be suffering from diabetes.

{2} Reading uncertain.

107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.—Comments on Pethick-Lawrence’s budget proposals, with reference to his own, and recommends measures to be taken if a capital levy is ruled out for the present.

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107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.
15/2/23

Dear Pethick Lawrence,

I have nothing that can be called a criticism to make of your Labour Budget proposals. My own reply to Greenwood was less ambitious, as I made no attempt to estimate, or even guess, the revenue yield next year.

Several of my practical proposals, e.g. to halve all the food taxes, agreed with yours. An alternative, roughly equivalent from the revenue point of view, would be to concentrate on the sugar duty & reduce it by 75%.

The loss of annual revenue consequent on a Capital Levy is not easy to estimate. I have worked it out in some detail, so far as the inadequate available statistics allow, in my little book on this subject which is now in the Press, {1} & I don’t think I am far out of agreement with your estimates.

If Capital Levy is ruled out for the moment, the line to take in the House is, I think, simply the need to shift burdens, i.e. lower food taxes & more generous allowances etc for the smaller income tax payer and, on the other hand, more steeply graduated super tax and death duties.

Yours sincerely
Hugh Dalton.

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{1} Presumably Principles of Public Finance.

107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.—Thanks him for his travel notes. The evidence of the Czech capital levy is of doubtful relevance to the British situation. Criticises the policy of the Romanian Government.

107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.—Returns a document (see 1/191). It will be important to get a full statement of the effect of the levy when most of the payments have been made.

107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.—Is in favour of stabilising the price level and therefore does not believe the Treasury Minute should be abrogated at present (see 1/192), as it is a defence against inflation.

(Printed letter-head of the London School of Economics, which Dalton has enclosed in square brackets.)

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107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.
5/3/24.

Dear Pethick Lawrence,

I should like a talk with you sometime before the next Finance Committee meeting. I regret to find that I shall again have to leave early, as I have an engagement at 6.30 on that day to dine with Charles Latham and the London Accountants.

Shortly, my view is the following.

I am in favour of stabilising the price level now & in the near future, though, looking further ahead, I hesitate to commit myself to a definite policy. Many factors seem to me to complicate the distant view.

I am more afraid of inflation in the near future than, I think, you are. I want stabilisation as a defence against the F.B.I., no less than against the old-fashioned deflationist authorities, who are, I think, the weaker of the two possible disturbers of the price level.

I don’t, therefore, feel happy about abrogating the Treasury Minute at this stage. It is our only real defence against inflation at present.

Nor am I so certain as, I think, you are that the Minute will operate to check a healthy, as distinct from a hectic & inflationist, trade revival in the near future.

Keynes said a few months ago at a Committee, of which I am a member, that he thought there was a good deal of margin in the situation, even with the Treasury Minute unchanged. In addition to the margin in the Currency Note Issue, he attached importance to the prospect, with reviving trade, of a more rapid circulation of bank deposits. I would add another factor, pointing in the same direction, namely the prospect of an increase in trade credits (between business men,—I don’t mean bank credits), as confidence grows.

Further, our situation may be eased by a rise in American prices, sufficient to restore the pre-war parity of exchange & lead to British imports of American gold. This has been long in coming, but it may come quickly, if the Federal Reserve Board’s stabilising policy gives way before the strong forces opposed to it.

My present feeling, therefore, is to pronounce in favour of a stable price level as our immediate objective, without committing ourselves to anything very general in the way of economic principles, & not to mention explicitly the Treasury Minute. Nor would I say that a future rise in bank rate is undesirable. If prices continue to rise as they have been doing lately, it may be desirable to raise bank rate in order to secure stability. My belief, (in opposition to that of others, I hear) is that you can stabilise any level of price you choose, & that there is no causal relation between the level chosen & the volume of unemployment.

If, for the time being, we could get the Govt to agree to stabilisation of the price level as a principle, and, implicitly, to whatever measures may be required to secure it, I should feel satisfied.

But I wouldn’t meet trouble half way, or give any encouragement to profiteers, by proclaiming in advance that more money shall be printed than the Treasury Minute allows.

Yours sincerely
Hugh Dalton.

107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.—Reflects on his by-election defeat. Is about to go on holiday to Sardinia and Sicily.

107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.—Is glad Pethick-Lawrence agrees with the line he took in the New Leader and would like to discuss the problem with him. Encourages him to address the Indian Majlis at Cambridge. Explains why he joined the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Has been preparing evidence for the Debt and Taxation Committee on points not connected with the capital levy, but will give evidence on the levy later and hopes that Pethick-Lawrence will do the same

107 Albert Bridge Road, S.W.11.—‘Many thanks. I shall look forward to discussing the points raised.’

5 Carlisle Mansions, Carlisle Place, S.W.1.—The planned visit to the Soviet Union is taking shape and he expects to be one of the party. Invites Pethick-Lawrence to discuss the matter.

West Leaze, Aldbourne, Wiltshire.—Is opposed to making a declaration at Leicester (i.e. at the Labour Party conference) in favour of nationalising the joint-stock banks.

West Leaze, Aldbourne, Wiltshire.—Advises him of the arrangements for their visit to the Soviet Embassy.

London School of Economics.—Introduces Dr Hans Neisser of the University of Kiel, who wishes to discuss monetary questions.

West Leaze, Aldbourne, Wiltshire.—Discusses his correspondence about Thompson and the Budapest Legation, and refers to the forthcoming party conference.

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West Leaze, Aldbourne, Wiltshire
Sept 24th 1934.

Dear Pethick,

I have been thinking about the Budapest Legation trouble, on which Hankinson has also written to me. As you know, I got in touch with the F. O. about it in July & I have a letter which I will show you, in confidence, at Southport. I don’t think there is ground for anticipating that Thompson will be reinstated. Technically, of course, he was not dismissed, but his engagement was terminated, as, under his contract of service, was always possible,—his was not an established post—on grounds of economy. Hankinson holds strong views on the merits of ths case, & on the Vice-Consul. In his last letter to me he is again rather rash in his statements, & he should, I think, be careful not to lay himself open, by what he says or writes to others, to a charge of slander or libel. But I think you had better see my letter from the F. O. & have a talk with me at Southport. I doubt whether further representation by Hankinson to the F. O. would be of any utility to Thompson, & whether they might not, in view of H’s strong views on this particular matter, diminish his possible influence on other questions connected with Hungary, on which, of course, we know him to be well informed. I feel it rather difficult to convey this to Hankinson directly. As he is an old personal friend of yours, perhaps you would convey to him something of what I have written, & perhaps you could add that you & I are going to have a talk about the case at Southport.

I have not answered his letter, owing to a sense of the difficulties which I have mentioned. But I do not wish to seem discourteous, & I should be very much obliged if you could let him know that I am in communication with you about his letter & about the case itself.

I think we shall have a good conference at Southport. The Socialist League have ridiculously overreached themselves and are likely, on all the main issues which they have raised, to be put to flight.

I think that the tactics used of old by Fabius Cunctator will be seen, when Southport is over, to have been the right ones to employ against them.

You speak of “autumn chores”. I am doing some too, digging holes in the chalk and carting good earth, and manure, and rot heaps, for the planting of new trees & shrubs! I find that this keeps me pretty fit.

With all good wishes,

Yours ever
Hugh Dalton.

[Added at the head of the letter:] P.S. Hankinson tells me that he put his view of the case to the F. O. Inspector who came out to Budapest. There is nothing more that he could tell the F. O. in London.

Ministry of Economic Warfare.—Thanks him for his good wishes (on his ministerial appointment), and reflects on the difficult task before him.

Ministry of Economic Warfare.—Responds to Pethick-Lawrence’s comments on his appointment to the Privy Council and his radio broadcast (see 1/196). Has advised Kingsley Wood that Boots ought to be exempted from the purchase tax.

Board of Trade.—Defends the minimum charge made to consumers who have gas and electricity connected to their houses under a two-part tariff contract, but recognises that some revision may be needed in connection with rationing.

Board of Trade.—Discusses the forthcoming debate on the Clearing Union and American Stabilisation Plans.

5 Carlisle Mansions, Carlisle Place, S.W.1.—Reciprocates his congratulations (on his election to Parliament). Wishes to discuss a parliamentary problem.

185a Ashley Gardens, S.W.1.—Thanks him for his congratulations (on his peerage).

Before going away for the weekend Pethick-Lawrence asked for the enclosed to be sent to Dalton.

Is sorry they could not come to a better agreement at yesterday’s Finance Committee meeting. Explains why he thinks that the Treasury Minute must be abrogated, and asks for Dalton’s views.

Will try to speak to the Cambridge Indian Majlis (see 1/178) after his debate at St Catherine’s. Will send a copy of the evidence he intends to give to the Colwyn Committee nearer the time. Intends to go with the Inter-Parliamentary Union to the United States this year. Encloses a copy of a letter he wrote recently to Dr Lange.

Pethick-Lawrence has gone abroad on holiday, but will discuss the visit to Russia with Cole on his return (see 1/180).

Sends a copy of a speech by Bogomoloff. Miss Goddard has recommended a male guide at Leningrad.

Congratulates him on his appointment to the Privy Council, and comments on his radio broadcast. Wishes to discuss the purchase tax with him.

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June 9
My dear Hugh

First let me send u my hearty congrats on your richly deserved P C {1}, th one honour which seems to m worth having & which does give one useful standing in the H/C {2} for more effective work.

Next let me tell you how much interested I was in your b-c {3} last night. I have been thinking all along tht it was H’s {4} petrol tank that probably wd give him his greatest trouble & it hasn’t escaped me how the B {5} bombers have gone above everything else for his petrol dumps. Your b.c strengthened my opinion & I imagine wd have th same effect on the B P {6}. In short I think your b.c was intended to say to the B P. “Hold on in good heart—if we can keep H at bay till Oct we are well on the way to victory.” I think you got this a x {7}

Now for a spot of criticism which I think a true friend shd always give. You struck me as being a little too dramatic & emphasised certain words too much, with the minor result tht those words did not come too well over the air & the major result tht you did not give as much the sense of strong confidence as you wd have done. You have probably noticed the difference between Churchill & D C & will understand when I say you were [there follows a mathematical formula representing ‘D.C.’ squared, divided by ‘Churchill’]. Finally I am not sure it pays to sound quite so venomous about the Germans as you did. It smacks a little of the Mikado & his boiling oil.

All this with your big heart you will take in the spirit in which it is written.

Ever yours
[blank]

If you have any free time say Tuesday evening or Wedday I should much enjoy a talk w you about the purchase tax.

[I have myself copied this letter out & sent it to H D from Twys.] {8}

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{1} Privy Councillorship.

{2} House of Commons.

{3} broadcast.

{4} Hitler’s.

{5} British.

{6} British Public.

{7} across.

{8} The square brackets are in the MS. This sentence was presumably addressed to a secretary.