When he returned to Britain recently after a fortnight's absence in Washington and Jamaica, Prime Minister Harold Wilson had little cause for cheer. As last week began, the pound fell to its lowest level ever against the currencies of all Britain's major trading partners, down a disastrous 24.9% from the Smithsonian Agreement level of 1971. Any sharper decline would give the nation's already soaring inflation rate of 30% an explosive new thrust. Labor Cabinet members were warring openly over economic policy and the Common Market referendum, and a rash of strikes had slashed output in the automobile, rubber, tractor,...
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