European Central Bank (ECB) President Wim Duisenberg attempted tosendout a strong signal that interest rates will not be cut at the bank's next meeting on Thursday.
"With lambing only a few months away, that would sendout a positive signalto producers and help lift some of the gloom generated by one of the more difficult seasons on record, " he said.
Government sources also indicated that there was no chance of Bill Bratton, the former Los Angeles and New York police chief brought in as a consultant by ministers, getting the top job, because it would sendout the wrong signalto officers in Britain.
Many in the firm wanted to slither out of the agreement, but Mr Weinberg thought that would send the worst kind of signal: that Goldman might let a client down.