November 15, 1948 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 Washington on Monday, November 15, 1948, at 10:10 a.m. PRESENT: Mr. McCabe, Chairman Mr. Clayton Mr. Draper Mr. Eccles Mr. Evans Mr. Gilbert Mr. Leedy Mr. Szymczak Mr. Vardaman Mr. Williams Mr. Young Mr. Morrill, Secretary Mr. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary Mr. Vest, General Counsel Mr. Thomas, Economist Mr. Rouse, Manager, System Open Market Account Mr. Thurston, Assis. nt to the Board of Governors Mr. Riefler, Assistant to the Chairman, Board of Governors Mr. Sherman, Assistant Secretary, Board of Gov ernors Upon motion duly made and seconded, and unanimous vote, the minutes of the meeting by of the Federal Open Market Committee held on October 4, 1948, were approved. of open market operations pre Mr. Rouse then read a report Bank of New York covering the period pared by the Federal Reserve inclusive. He also to November 10, 1948, from October 4, 1948, 1948 (November 11 on November 12, a report of operations submitted discussion of the reports, and there was a brief was a holiday), files of the Federal Open been placed in the copies of which have Market Committee.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, and by unanimous vote, the transactions in the System account for the period October 3, 1948, to November 12, 1948, inclusive, were approved, ratified, and confirmed. Chairman McCabe stated that he and Mr. Sproul (who was ill and could not attend this meeting of the Federal Open Market Com mittee) called on Secretary of the Treasury Snyder on October 13, 1948, to deliver the letter prepared in accordance with the action at the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on October 4, that they conferred with Secretary Snyder together subsequently to discuss the matter further, and that he (Chairman McCabe) called on the Secretary alone last Wednesday, November 10, 1948, at which time Mr. Sproul could not be present. At the meeting on October 13, Chairman McCabe said, there was a general review of the situation and he and Mr. Sproul ampli fied the views of the Open Market Committee as outlined in the Com mittee's letter. He went on to say that Secretary Snyder said at the first meeting that he wanted to take the matter under advise ment, that at the second meeting the Secretary showed a sympathetic interest in the recommendations of the Committee, but that at the conference last Wednesday he stated that he had come to the def inite conclusion in his own mind, because of the hesitation shown in the market since the National election on November 2, that it would be a mistake to increase bill and certificate rates until
there was an opportunity to see what effect the drop in securities prices would have and what the trend in the economic picture would be. Chairman McCabe added that Secretary Snyder wanted to an nounce immediately that there would be no change in short-term rates in connection with December and January refunding operations and that the $571 million issue of bonds maturing on December 15, 1948, and the certificates and notes maturing on January 1, 1949, would be refunded with a one-year 1-1/4 per cent certificate. In addi tion, he wanted to keep the bill rate from rising above 1.15 per cent. Chairman McCabe stated that the reason given by the Secre tary for the proposed announcement was that there had been so much talk in the market about an increase in the short-term rate that he felt it was time to bring some equilibrium into the market and get the thing settled now, and that when the Treasury had made up its mind he felt it was best to make the announcement immediately so as to prevent any leaks. Chairman McCabe stated that he protested vigorously the making of an announcement at this time and restated, as strongly Committee with respect to an in as he could, the position of the adding that, in spite of conditions crease in the short-term rate, of business, and the hesitation on the part in the stock market action should be taken to increase that some bankers felt no fact
rates at this time, there were continuing inflationary pressures which called for an increase in the rate as suggested by the Com mittee. At the end of the discussion, Chairman McCabe said, Sec retary Snyder consented to withhold the proposed announcement until after this meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. Chairman McCabe said that he had talked with Mr. Sproul twice from Secretary Snyder's office last Wednesday and that Mr. Sproul agreed with the views outlined by Chairman McCabe, with the sugges tion that the matter be discussed by the Committee, and, if the Committee agreed, that it try to persuade the Secretary to postpone the announcement. In the ensuing discussion, Mr. Eccles stated that the situa tion had changed materially since the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on October 4, 1948, and that the economists might discuss, in the light of the current situation, the proposal that the short-term rate be increased. Mr. Riefler stated that the election had shocked those who made investment decisions and they were making no new commitments, that if the condition continued there could be a recession, but that he would be skeptical as to how far it could go because basic demands continued large, public utilities would continue to expand in response to demand, and the military program would be larger than now expected. However, in view of the changed situation, he felt
that a longer term appraisal of Treasury debt management and fi nancing policies would be in order. Mr. Thomas stated that the reason for wanting to raise the short-term interest rate was that the present rate structure was artificial and unreasonable in a period of great activity or in a period of strong demand for funds, and that as long as the present wide spread between long-term and short-term yields continued under existing conditions the System would be faced with the necessity of supporting the market for long-term bonds at times when it did not wish to be bound to give support. He felt it would have been better if the short-term rate had been increased earlier as a move in the direction of desirable greater flexibility in the short-term market, and encouraging holders of liquid funds to put these funds in short term issues. As to the basic forces operating in the economy, he pointed to the military program, foreign demands for American goods, and in which there was a high level of unsat the domestic situation, that in his opinion there was a strong isfied demand, and stated of hesitation which could that there would be a period likelihood which would be stronger by an inflationary condition be followed depression. In this could end in a severe than before, and which would be restrictive policy felt that a continued situation, he called for.
In connection with Mr. Thomas' remarks, reference was made to memoranda on the Outlook for Bank Reserves and Treasury Financing and Current Money Market Developments, dated November 5 and 12, 1948, respectively, copies of which have been placed in the files of the Federal Open Market Committee. In response to a request from Chairman McCabe, Mr. Rouse discussed possible conditions in the Government securities market and what might be done in the System open market account to meet changing conditions. There followed a discussion of what should be said to Secre tary Snyder when Chairman McCabe met with him again and there was agreement that the announcement of the December and January refund ing should be deferred. It was also agreed that a draft of letter to Secretary Snyder should be prepared by Messrs. Morrill, Thomas, Riefler, and Rouse for consideration by the Committee after luncheon. Thereupon, the meeting recessed and reconvened at 3:15 p.m. with the same attendance as at the morning session, except that Mr. Thomas was not present. Mr. Carpenter read the draft of letter to the Treasury pre pared in accordance with the understanding at the morning session. The draft was discussed and revised and, upon motion duly made and seconded, unanimous vote, was approved in the and by following form, with the understanding that, possible, Chairman McCabe would deliver if it to Secretary Snyder this afternoon:
"In a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee today I reviewed the informal discussions which we have had with you since my letter of October 13, 1948, out lining the views and recommendations of the Federal Open Market Committee with respect to Treasury debt manage ment and Federal Reserve open market policies. While Mr. Sproul was not able to attend today's meeting, be cause of illness, I have discussed these matters with him and he concurs in the views expressed in this let ter. "It is the opinion of the Committee that, notwith standing the recent slackening in the public's sales of bonds to the Federal Reserve and some evidences of hesi tation in business plans and commitments, the basic forces in the credit situation and the necessity for flexibility in Federal Reserve open market operations continue un changed. "You have indicated a desire to make an immediate an nouncement of the December and January refunding without change in rates. It is the unanimous judgment of the members of the Committee that a decision and therefore an announcement would be premature at this time for the rea son that it is not now possible to forecast market condi tions with sufficient accuracy to justify a conclusion. We understand that an announcement of specific rates on the securities to be issued in a refunding operation can be deferred until a date early in December. In the mean will continue the present support policy and time, we the benefit of market developments and can re will have the next meeting of the Federal Open Market view them at Committee which had already been set for November 30. "If notwithstanding this recommendation it is your immediately a refunding on an un decision to announce basis, I can assure you that it will be the changed rate as heretofore, to support the policy of the Committee, for Treasury certificates one-year issuing rate current the same time the Com period. At through the refunding our letter of policy stated in will continue the mittee in the Treasury bill 13 permitting flexibility October by the support of the up to the limit imposed market current certificate rate. between now and has been made that "The suggestion upon its balances the Treasury draw the end of the year on bank reserves. of continuing pressure for the purpose These funds would be used most effectively if the Treasury
"were to purchase long-term securities from the System account or, in the event the System is purchasing se curities in the market to support the long-term rate, if the Treasury were to purchase long-terms directly from the market. The Committee is in agreement with this suggestion and recommends its adoption by the Treasury. "The Committee is of the opinion that it has be come more necessary than ever to determine upon a com prehensive long-term program looking toward the re financing of the public debt including the refunding of some of the outstanding debt into issues and ma turities that the market will carry without undue re liance upon Federal Reserve support. We would like to discuss this matter with you at your earliest con venience." Secretary's Note: Chairman McCabe called on Secretary Snyder on the afternoon of Monday, November 15, 1948, and later stated that the Secretary read the letter approved by the Fed eral Open Market Committee and expressed the view that it was an excellent letter, particu larly the last paragraph with respect to a com long-term program. In the latter con prehensive nection, the Secretary said he thought the staffs Treasury and the Open Market Committee of the He also said that discuss such a program. should to think about the balance of the he would like Committee's letter overnight. Chairman McCabe that the matter had been given told Mr. Snyder at a meeting of the Federal very careful thought which lasted most of the Open Market Committee Committee would sincerely hope day and that the would accept the Committee's that the Treasury The following morning Secretary recommendation. to say that re called Chairman McCabe Snyder been pressing for an announcement porters had that under the circumstances on the refunding and than to make the announce he saw no other course that the December and ment. The announcement be an offering of cer January refunding would per cent rate was made by tificates at a 1-1/4 Treasury on November 16, 1948. the
During the discussion of the letter set forth above, there was distributed to the representative members of the Committee a confidential memorandum prepared by members of the Board's staff under date of November 12, 1948, entitled, "A Conversion Operation for Restricted Bonds", and, at Chairman McCabe's suggestion, it was understood that prior to November 30, 1948, the date of the the members of the Committee would send to the Sec next meeting, wish to express with respect to the retary any views they might proposals contained in the memorandum. Thereupon the meeting adjourned. Secretary. Approved: Chairman.