March 2, 1942 FOMC Minutes: Full Text
A meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee was held in the offices of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Wash ington on Monday, March 2, 1942, at 10:10 a.m. PRESENT: Mr. Eccles, Chairman Mr. Sproul, Vice Chairman Mr. Szymczak Mr. McKee Mr. Ransom Mr. Draper Mr. Alfred H. Williams Mr. Gilbert Mr. C. S. Young Mr. Leedy Mr. Morrill, Secretary Mr. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary Mr. Wyatt, General Counsel Mr. Goldenweiser, Economist Mr. Rouse, Manager of the System Open Market Account Mr. Piser, Chief, Government Securities Section, Division of Research and Statistics of the Board of Governors Mr. Clayton, Assistant to Chairman Eccles Messrs. Paddock, McLarin, Davis, and Day, alternate members of the Federal Open Market Committee Mr. Leach, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and Mr. Zurlinden, First Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Mr. Sienkiewicz, Secretary of the Presidents' Conference Mr. Morrill stated that advices of the election for the period of one year commencing March 1, 1942, of members and alternate members of the Federal Open Market Committee representing the Federal Reserve Banks had been received, that each newly elected member and alternate
member had executed the required oath of office (with the exception of Mr. Fleming, who, because of illness, was not in attendance at this meeting but to whom the form of oath of office would be sent for execu tion), and that it was the opinion of the Committee's Counsel on the basis of the advices received that the following members and alternate members were legally qualified to serve: Allan Sproul, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with W. W. Paddock, First Vice President (President elect) of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, as alternate member; Alfred H. Williams, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, with M. J. Fleming, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, as alternate member; R. R. Gilbert, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, with W. S. McLarin, Jr., President of the Fed eral Reserve Bank of Atlanta, as alternate member; C. S. Young, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, with Chester C. Davis, President of the Fed eral Reserve Bank of St. Louis, as alternate member; and President of the Federal Reserve Bank H. G. Leedy, with William A. Day, President of the Fed of Kansas City, eral Reserve Bank of San Francisco, as alternate member. Upon motion duly made and seconded, and by unanimous vote, the following officers of the Federal Open Market Committee were re elected to serve until the election of their successors at the first meeting of the Commit tee after March 1, 1943: Marriner S. Eccles, Chairman Allan Sproul, Vice Chairman S. R. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary E. A. Goldenweiser, Economist John H. Williams, Associate Economist Walter Wyatt, General Counsel Assistant General Counsel J. P. Dreibelbis, motion duly made and seconded, and Upon vote, the Federal Reserve Bank by unanimous
of New York was selected to execute trans actions for the System open market account until the adjournment of the first meeting of the Committee after March 1, 1943. Mr. Sproul stated that at the last meeting of the board of di rectors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Mr. Rouse was selected as manager of the System open market account, subject to the selection of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York by the Federal Open Market Com mittee as the Bank to execute transactions for the System open market account and to his approval by the Federal Open Market Committee. Upon motion duly made and seconded, and by unanimous vote, the selection of Mr. Rouse as manager of the System open market account was approved. Upon motion duly made and seconded, and by unanimous vote, the following were selected to serve with the Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee (who, under the provisions of the bylaws, is also chairman of the executive committee) as members and alternate members of the executive committee until the selection of their successors at the first meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee after March 1, 1943: Members Alternate Members M. S. Szymczak John K. McKee Ernest G. Draper Ronald Ransom Sproul (To serve in the order Allan Alfred H. Williams named as alternates for Messrs. Eccles, Szymczak, and Draper) R. R. Gilbert C. S. Young (To serve in the order named as alternates for Messrs. Sproul and Williams)
At the suggestion of Messrs. Szymczak and McKee, Chairman Eccles reviewed briefly the suggested program of Treasury financing set forth in the memorandum which was sent to the Treasury on January 28, He also discussed the difficulties which it was felt were created by the failure of the Treasury to adopt a long-term program of financing, the discussions which members of the executive committee of the Fed eral Open Market Committee had had with representatives of the Treas ury with respect to a financing program, and the attitude of members of the Treasury staff towards the problem. If substantially the pres ent methods of financing were continued, he said, it would be necessary to create a large volume of excess reserves for the purpose of placing the banks under pressure to purchase Government securities. He stated that the program suggested in the memorandum sent to the Secretary of the Treasury on January 28, 1942, proposed special types of tap issues which were designed to attract as many non-bank funds as possible and to meet the requirements of different classes of investors which it was hoped would reduce the amount of open market financing and the amount of securities that would have to be purchased by banks to the lowest possible minimum. He made the further statement that it was felt that the members of the executive committee had done about all they could in the way of suggesting a desirable long-term program to the Treasury. He went on to say that the representatives of the Open Market Committee had indicated that, if the suggested program were carried out so as to
reduce the amount of open market financing to a minimum, the Federal Re serve System would do everything within its power to insure the success of such financing. The Chairman added that it would be helpful if the Presidents' Conference could agree to a statement, which might be sent to the Treasury, expressing their agreement with the suggested program and their willingness to assume responsibility for the marketing of the special issues proposed in the program. Reference was made to the status in Congress of the second War Powers Act which contains an amendment to section 14(b) of the Federal Reserve Act which would authorize the Federal Reserve Banks to purchase Government securities direct from the Treasury, and it was stated that present indications were that the bill would go to conference and that the amendment would be adopted in its original unrestricted form. In connection with a discussion of this amendment, Chairman Eccles sug gested that the Presidents be furnished with copies of the memorandum prepared by Mr. Goldenweiser under the title ". .. But Only in the Open Market". A copy of the memorandum was handed to each of the Presi dents during the course of the meeting. Reference was made to the memorandum prepared by Mr. Piser under date of February 23, 1942, summarizing the discussions at the meeting with representatives of the Treasury on February 20, and to the state thereto, which had been prepared at the Treasury, and which ment attached contained certain suggestions with respect to the open market financing
program. There was a discussion of the likelihood of the Treasury tak ing the position at some time in the future that reserve requirements should be reduced and of what might be regarded as the minimum maturity of the long-term issues which it was expected would carry a rate of 2-1/2 per cent. Chairman Eccles reviewed the discussions at the Treasury on the latter point and stated that it had been agreed that, if a public statement were made with respect to the intention of the Treasury to un dertake to finance the war at a rate not to exceed 2-1/2 per cent, the statement would be made by the Treasury, that in order to provide the necessary flexibility no reference would be made in that statement to the question of maturities, but that any securities with a maturity of 15 years or longer would be regarded as long-term issues which would carry the 2-1/2 per cent rate. It was also agreed, he said, that the point at which support would be given to the market by the System would be determined in discussions with the Treasury from time to time, that, if at any time the pressure on the long-term market were such that it became necessary for the System to purchase large amounts and financ ing could not be done on the basis upon which the market was being sup would want to consider the matter further, but ported, the Treasury that, if the market should decline to par on a 2-1/2 per cent 15-year should be held at that point for the reason that any issue, the market further decline would mean that the Treasury was paying more than 2-1/2 per cent on long-term securities. of a pattern of rates out that in speaking Mr. Sproul pointed
it had not been contemplated that rates would be fixed for the shorter term securities, but that flexibility in those rates would be permitted to meet conditions, and that it was believed that this point in the sug gested program was now understood by the Treasury. In this connection, Chairman Eccles said that it was made clear to the Treasury representa tives that long-term securities might be anything from 15 to 25 years and that the rate on 90-day bills could be anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 per cent. The letter transmitting the memorandum of January 28, 1942, to the Secretary of the Treasury was then read, and Chairman Eccles called particular attention to the fact that the memorandum did not represent action by the executive committee of the Federal Open Market Committee or of the full Committee but was the unanimous view of the persons re ferred to in the letter as having participated in the preparation of the memorandum. Mr. Leach stated that the short-term tap issue suggested in the memorandum of January 28 would provide for redemption after six months on 60 days' notice. He said that at a recent joint meeting in Baltimore of the directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and its Baltimore Branch this point was discussed, without mentioning the pro gram under consideration, and that it appeared that at the present time corporations and other large investors would be unwilling to commit many of their short-term funds unless provision were made for redemp tion in less than six months, and that, therefore, the short-term
issue would be taken in much larger amounts if provision were made for redemption in four months or less even though no interest were allowed in the event of redemption within six months. In a discussion of this point, during which Mr. Sproul stated that the Treasury might be willing to reduce the six months' period if the rate were reduced, Chairman Eccles stated that if corporations were not willing to commit their funds for six months they could invest in bills, the amount of which it was hoped would be increased for the pur pose of giving the necessary flexibility to the short-term market. In response to an inquiry from Mr. Draper, Chairman Eccles stated that the recent discussions at the Treasury had been with members of the Treasury staff and not with Secretary Morgenthau, and that it was not known what the attitude of the Secretary would be toward the program suggested in the memorandum of January 28. of what, if any, further action might be taken In a discussion to the adoption of a long of the System with respect by representatives it appeared to be the consensus that the members term financing program, Open Market Committee should committee of the Federal of the executive to follow the matter to a conclusion take advantage of every opportunity should be advised that of the Treasury Bell and that Under Secretary glad to have further dis committee would be the members of the executive staff at any time. members of the Treasury cussions with a statement in if the Presidents adopted Mr. Ransom stated that, of January 28, 1942, suggested in the memorandum support of the program
he would assume that if, in subsequent discussions with the Treasury, a modification of the program were decided upon the Presidents would have an opportunity to discuss the proposed changes. Mr. Sproul said that it would be his understanding that, in the event such a statement were adopted by the Presidents, the members of the executive committee of the Federal Open Market Committee would be at liberty to continue discussions with the Treasury with respect to rates and other points of detail, but that if substantial changes were made the Presidents would be given an opportunity to consider the changes. Chairman Eccles stated that before a decision could be reached on a program it would be necessary for members of the executive committee to meet with the Secretary of the Treasury, that he (Chairman Eccles) would like to feel that in such a meeting the members of the executive committee would be in a position to agree to as much of the suggested program as they could get the Secretary of the Treasury to accept and that, if the Treasury would not accept the entire program, the members of the Federal Open Market Committee should be in a position to commit the System to the extent that a program could be agreed upon without being under the necessity of referring the matter back to the other Federal Reserve Bank Presidents. Mr. Davis expressed the opinion that it was desirable that a decision be reached on the question of a long-term program before the Treasury was again faced with the necessity of going into the market
for additional funds, and he suggested that the submission of any state ment adopted by the Presidents be used as an occasion for a further dis cussion with the Treasury. Chairman Eccles then called upon the Presidents for an expres sion of their views with respect to the program suggested in the memo randum of January 28. All of the Presidents and First Vice Presidents in attendance at the meeting, with the exception of Messrs. Sproul, Leach, and Williams who had participated in the discussions at the Treasury and whose views were known, expressed themselves as being in agreement with the proposed program and indicated that they would be agreeable to the adoption by the Presidents' Conference of a statement in support of the program. Mr. Leach renewed his suggestion that the initial redemption period on the short-term issue referred to in the memorandum be reduced to two or four months with provision for no interest in the event of redemption before six months from date of issue. Several of the Presi dents concurred in this suggestion. Chairman Eccles stated that, if it were felt that Mr. Leach's important one, it could be proposed as a matter of suggestion was an the proper time without making it an issue in the discussions detail at Treasury with respect to the adoption of the general program. with the Treasury were unwilling to adopt the Mr. Zurlinden said that, if the effect without it and it could the program could be put into suggestion, whether the change should be be determined on the basis of experience
made. Mr. Gilbert stated that it would be desirable if the present rate on Treasury bills were increased somewhat for the reason that a higher rate would broaden the distribution of bills and effect a better distribution of bank reserves. During the Presidents' statements, reference was made to the suggestion that the Federal Reserve Banks offer to handle the sale of the special issues proposed in the memorandum of January 28, 1942, and Chairman Eccles stated that he felt that such an offer would be ac ceptable to the Treasury and would facilitate the adoption of a pro gram. Chairman Eccles then inquired whether the Presidents felt that there was any other form of open market security that could be offered by the Treasury that would meet the needs of investors as well as a long-term tap issue which, in effect, would be an extension of the Series G issue on somewhat less favorable terms and would enable in vestors to avoid the speculative element of market issues, the padding of subscriptions to get a desired amount, or the payment of premiums in the open market. Mr. Davis stated, and other Presidents indicated agreement, that the position was implicit in the program that had been offered to the Treasury that market issues could not meet the needs of certain investors as well as the suggested special issues. Eccles stated that it would be of considerable assist Chairman ance to the members of the executive committee in their further discussions
with the Treasury if the Presidents' Conference would adopt a state ment along the lines that had been proposed, and that the statement might well include the Presidents' reasons for supporting the program and a statement of the willingness of the Federal Reserve Banks to un dertake the distribution of the special issues contemplated in the program. Mr. Day, as Chairman of the Presidents' Conference, stated that the Presidents would meet in a separate session to consider the matter. Reference was then made to the open market policy that should be followed pending another meeting of the Federal Open Market Commit tee, and Mr. Sproul stated that this question was so closely related to the financing policies adopted by the Treasury that, until a de cision was reached by the Treasury on what its future financing pro gram would be, the Federal Open Market Committee had little choice other than to continue the open market policy now in effect, and that, therefore, he would suggest the renewal of the resolution adopted at the last meeting of the Committee. Wyatt whether the limitation of 5 Mr. Ransom inquired of Mr. dollars, which had been approved by the House of Representa billion of the Federal Reserve Banks to pur tives, on the proposed authority chase securities directly from the Treasury, should be taken into consideration by the Federal Open Market Committee in connection with
the renewal of the authority granted to the executive committee to ef fect transactions in the System account. Mr. Wyatt replied that, since the War Powers Bill which contained the amendment had not yet been passed by Congress and it was expected that the limitation would not be in the amendment in its final form, the limitation would have no effect on the authority of the Federal Open Market Committee to take the suggested action. Thereupon, upon motion duly made and seconded, the following resolution was adopted by unanimous vote: That the executive committee be directed until other wise directed by the Federal Open Market Committee to ar range for such transactions for the System open market account (including purchases, sales, exchanges, replace ment of maturing securities, and letting maturities run off without replacement) as in its judgment from time to time may be advisable in the light of existing conditions; provided that the aggregate amount of securities held in the account at the close of this date shall not be increased or decreased by more than $500,000,000. Federal Advisory Council at its The resolution adopted by the was suggested that consideration be given to last meeting, in which it the amount of weekly Treasury bill the desirability of an increase in stated that copies of this reso was then read. Mr. Morrill offering, the Federal Advisory Coun resolution adopted by lution and of a second reserve requirements of position was taken that cil, in which the had been sent by as stable as possible, banks should be kept member confidential informa Treasury for its of Governors to the the Board tion.
Thereupon the meeting adjourned. Secretary.
Also: Record of Policy Actions·Minutes of the Executive Committee, March 2, 1942