Hon.O'Brien, Cont'd.
cannot need a greater proof than the fact that the following Offices have underwritten the risk against Fire in the Tanks,—viz,—ATLAG, COMMERCIAL UNION, EQUITABLE, GUARDIAN, LIVERPOOL LONDON & GLOBE, LONDON & LANCASHIRE, PROMITIA, LANCASHIRE, NORTH BRITISH & MERCANTILE, and NORTHERN ASSURANCE CO.
The mode of packing for the oil is that in use in all other bulk installations, and exists in the very heart of the populous district of Bethnal Green in London. No lights are used, the filling apparatus is automatic, and it is quite impossible that any danger can arise from this portion of the business, and there is consequently no room for the impertinence & cavils: no excuses upon which your memorialists, as it seems to us in default of a better arrangement, finally dwell!! Under no circumstances will any lights be used in the installation, and it is contemplated to do the work in daylight only. Mr. Boverton Redwood has expressed the firm opinion that even a raging fire could not ignite the tanks, and as no large quantity of oil will ever be exposed outside them, it is quite clear that much danger as your memorialists anticipate could not exist even if a fire unfortunately broke out in the installation.
The concluding paragraph of the memorial urging you to place the installation at a site where it would be handicapped as compared with ours clearly shows the motives that have actuated both these memorials to you. The memorialists are in error when they allege that permission has been refused due to other ports;—this is not correct. We cited you in our last the ports where permission has been given, and now have to inform you that the Port Trust Commissioners in Bombay and Karachi have also sanctioned the discharge of Tank steamers at the respective ports & are giving us every facility to carry out the business.
You have enjoyed the active help of the Foreign Office in our negotiations with the Siamese Government, and more especially with the Japanese Government, & in both cases their intervention has proved successful.
We earnestly repeat the request made to you in our last that you will at once sanction the completion of the Installation as per the permission already granted by your Government. We submit that it would be a very grave breach of faith to withdraw the sanction already given, and on the strength of which we have gone to great outlay, more especially as we are sure you cannot fail to agree with us that there is absolutely no basis upon which to found the opposition to the project.
We are, Dear Sir,—
Your most obedient servants.
Dictated.
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