looking through some of churchill's telegrams for the war i found this gem, addressed to the minister of agriculture, food and war transport:

"on no account reduce the barley for whisky. This takes years to mature, and is an invaluable export and dollar producer. Having regard to all our other difficulties about exports, it would be most improvident not to preserve this characteristic British element of ascendancy."

this, from someone who said "I have taken more out of drink than drink has taken out of me."

interesting, i doubt its usefulness in my essay about post war reconstruction and the "bretton woods" institutions, considering i have just 500 words. pity.