542 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The success of this mechanism on the two previous occasions had strengthened the belief that it had the virtue of restoring the value of the rupee. But the failure of this mechanism in the crisis of 1920 compels one to adopt an attitude of reserve towards its general efficacy. It cannot be said that exchange gave way because this mechanism was not brought into operation. On the other hand, the view of the Government regarding the sale of reverse councils in 1920 had undergone a profound modification as compared with the view it held during the crisis of 1907-8. In that crisis the Government behaved like a miser, sitting tight on its gold reserve and refusing to use it for the very purpose which it was designed to serve. An Accountant-General had “to go on his knees” to persuade the Government of India to, release its gold.* It was probably because it was rebuked by the Chamberlain Commission for failing to make use of its gold reserve in 1907 that in the crisis of 1920 the policy of selling reverse councils was so boldly conceived. There was a great deal of ignorant criticism of that policy from the general public that it was an “organized loot.” But the Finance Minister was undaunted, and argued†:—
“It is an essential feature of our exchange policy... that we should not only provide for remittances from London to India through council bills at approximately gold point, but from India to London in time of exchange weakness also at gold point, through the sale of sterling remittance known as reverse councils. It is simply an alternative to the export of gold. This is no new matter—we have been selling reverse councils for years...... and unless we do so the exchange policy does not become effective...... This is the reason, and the only reason, why we have sold reverse councils...... It is an effort in fact to maintain exchange as near as posssible to the gold point.... What would be the consequence if we yielded to the pressure placed on us and ceased to sell reverse councils at all ? I can understand a demand that reverse councils should be sold by some different method, or at rates different from those at present in force, but I must confess that I cannot understand the demand that the facilities
- Evidence of Mr. F. C Harrison before the Chamberlain Commission, Q. 10,209.
† Speech on the resolution re “Reverse Councils,” March 10, 1920. S.L.C.P. Vol. LVIII p. 1291.