The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-05-19
. BEHIND THE SCENES
IN WASHINGTON .

this was broadened to take in
Belgium, The Netherlands and
Switzerland. Progress in world
currency sterilization was thus
just getting started when war
broke out in Europe.
In l94l the United States tack
led the problem from another
angle. AT the Pan American con-
ference in Rio, a resolution was
put through in favor of a meet
ing of finance ministers to con-
slider establishing an inter-
national fund for sterilization OF
exchange rates, correcting NAL
distribution of gold and strength
ening monetary systems.
Since that time these ideas
have been under constant study,
not only by the United States.
but by everyone having a know
ledge and feeling of RESPONSE
bility for world monetary PROB
lens. The United States took the
lead by asking United Nations
governments TO send technical
experts TO Washington to design
Il plan that would meet post war
problems then foreseen.
OUR NUMBER ONE BRAIN
Number one brain for the
United States in all this decker
ing by $50 experts of "a nations
has been Harry ID. White, who
since 1898 has been director of
monetary research in the u. $.
Treasury, and has lived with this
monetary sterilization idea all
the while.
Privately Mr.. White tells his
associates that he doesn't know
why he botherS with all this. He
would like to chuck it all and 70
live on farm-which his
friends say he Will never do.
White is technician. admires
skill. He envies the way engin-
GERS are able to solve their prob.
lens, he wishes human or poll
teal or sociological problems
could be solved the same way.
He hates protocol and diplo-
macy. He loves an argument,
practically never loses one. At
times he can be pretty sarcastic.
but he has sense of humor and
is a good companion off the JOB.
After explaining the present
proposals Of the experts to con-
gressional committees in execu-
tive session, when someone men
toned that the idea had been
put over the hill, White told
about the captain in Italy who
led his company in fighting up
the boot. over one hill after an
other, until the men were just
about exhausted. Finally the
captain reconnoitered the next
hill, turned and called back,
This is the last hill" The men
all cheered and then the captain
said, The next one is a mount
ain.'
Getting all the governments TO
approve the Monetary Stabilize
ton Fund plan is the mountain
ahead.
IT'S OUT OF THIS WORLD
But even when, as, and if rati-
fed, few people will understand
what it's all about or how II
works. It's all strictly in the
stratospt@re Of world finance
and only people like Harry
White have TO worry about il.
White is 81 OF medium height
and size, balding, with gray
mustache and rimless spectaclcs
Non a round face. Boston born
and for six years an instructor in
economies AT harvard, ne uOeSn
show either one. In the last Wal
he was a first lieutenant and for
two years was in command Of q
War-orphans' asylum in France
This war, in addition to nursing
monetary sterilization, he is in
charge Of all the Treasury
overseas operations, which is nc
small job in itself, and he is 4
good administrator in addition
TO being theorist and a tech
nician.
He went TO Europe and Africa
last year, on an inspection trip
with Secretary Morgenthau. and
had quite a time.