"What Does The Devaluation Mean To Me...?" - People at a newsstand in London read the morning newspapers giving details of Sir Stafford Cripp's speech from Downing-street announcing the devaluation of the from dollars and three cents to two dollars and eighty cents. The external value of the ? is now 14 shillings. People on their way to work this morning (Monday) are wondering how the devaluation of the pound, announced by Sir Stafford Cripps, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his broadcast from Downing Street here will affect them. September 19, 1949.