T
of view that the commissions should be reckoned on every
transaction, that is to say on the turn-over. While I
was in Hong Kong S. T. drew no commission and accordingly
I cammut say what point of view they take. Perhaps this
question will be settled by the Government later. As,
however, in the first place we are concerned with esti-
mated figures it might be well to set the commission of
the liquidators of our Hong Kong firm at $ 50000 for the
present. We shall not be able to et exact particulars
until after the war.
(The rest if the letter is concerned with floods and
fires in Canton.)
Copy-
Dear Mr. Steger,
CANTON.
C.O
47729
RECO
(RFG£16 OCT 15
21st July, 1915. 512
S.T. wrote to me as follows on the 19th instant. "We notice that in each statement of charges on consign- ments ex Hong Kong stock, a fixed charge of 11 cents per case is made to cover duty. As this is not the actual amount paid, we shall be glad to know how often
The an adjustment is made with the Texas Company." Liquidators are pressing me for a reply in order to pass the same on to the Texas Company, and to collect further evidence that we have earned extra. Accord- ingly I shall not reply to .T.'s letter and if they threaten we shall take standpoint that the letter ims
not reached me.
I do not believe any more in the fairness &c. of Ifr. Shewan. Right at the begiming he may have had good intentions but later he has been influenced by the many false reports in the newspapers and attacks on us. A short time ago there was a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce and the noble Mr. Hewill again delivered himself of one of his well-known speeches. You will probably have read in one of your newspapers that the resolution to exclude Germans for ever from the Chamber of Commerce was seconded by Mr. Shewan
which is evidence enough.
The Liquidators wrote to the Texas Company under the date of 13th instant as follows:-
"We have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of 9th ultimo, confirming your cable advices regarding the transfer of the agency for South China. We have already advised you that the question of can-
celling