IU
drawn as it is from interested parties, must be received with caution.
The attitude of the majority of
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Merchants to the Conferences is friendly for the reason that Merchants prefer, as a rule, fixed freights even though they may tend to be high - to freights which fluctuate in obedience to competition.
Es.
3
I would refer Your Lordship to Sir Henry Blake's Confidential Despatch of the 27th of October, 1899, the information in which was evidently obtained from some person not interested in a Conference.
4.
In this connection I may mention that I caused an enquiry to be addressed to the Chamber of Commerce as to rates on similar freights to Hongkong from London and Antwerp respectively, and that the reply received was that the Chamber had no information as to what rates obtain in London and Antwerp on cargo to Hong-kong. An enquiry as to rates of freight from Hongkong to London and Antwerp elicited the reply of which I enclose a copy.
Enclosure 3. Enclosure 4
5.
I enclose copy of a report by the Attorney-General on paragraph 4 of Your Lordship's Despatch
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