94 REICHSBANK AND MONEY MARKET. 
At any rate, experience has shown that in 
fairly normal times the mechanism acts perfectly 
well, and even in times of storm and stress no 
serious difficulties in the system itself have so 
far come to light. After all, it is the task of the 
central institution, in taking, of course, all 
necessary care and precaution, to help and not to 
hamper economic developments. It is impossible 
to make such provisions as to meet all possible 
contingencies ; all the assets of the world cannot 
be covered by gold lying in the banks ; they cannot 
be turned into cash all at one time; the world 
cannot be liquidated all at once ; but as long as 
the means of circulation and the instruments of 
credit represent and are backed by actual values, 
it cannot be said that the system is unsound or 
absolutely dangerous. What can happen if the 
worst comes to the worst is that in Germany 
the notes issued by the Reichsbank will become 
forced payment, and in England that the Bank 
Act must be suspended, certainly in both cases 
not a desirable state of affairs; but such 
measures are conducive to bridging over tem 
porary difficulties until normal conditions are 
restored.