This paper discusses actions taken by members themselves, particularly for the establishment of internal financial stability, are of primary importance for the elimination of restrictions. The IMF has sought to give its support to countries faced with the practical difficulty of establishing such policies, pointing out the importance of appropriate exchange rate policies in achieving a sound international financial position and the importance of internal stability for exchange rate policy. Many member countries have now reached a point where they are re-examining more carefully not only their need for the current level of restrictions, but also the more fundamental question of reliance upon restrictions to cope with balance of payments difficulties. In the first year of IMF consultations, although some countries were applying policies designed to produce favorable conditions for the removal of restrictions, most countries were so preoccupied with their immediate problems that any substantial withdrawal of restrictions was impracticable.

Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions 1951

This paper analyses relatively little overall progress in the formal relaxation of restrictions. Certainly, progress in this respect was much less than in the immediately preceding years. On the other hand, there was a significant strengthening of most internationally traded currencies, particularly in the opening months of 1958. The rates in free markets began to approximate the rates in official markets. In this respect, there was continued progress toward what is commonly called external convertibility, although the present position still falls short of formal external convertibility. In some countries, restrictions were relaxed to only a limited extent, partly because earlier relaxations had left only restrictions of a protective nature and partly because of the more complex nature of the economic trends which characterized the period. In the light of these trends and, more particularly, of the currency speculation which arose during the middle of the period, it is notable that most countries were able to defend the progress toward freer trade and payments which had been made earlier.