125
kinasj
The firm have given us a guarantee of kinas
and what we asked the Board of Trade was whether that
guarantee ought in some way to be supported.
Now
they reply that practically they rely upon the
possibility of taking proceedings under the Trading
with the Enemy Proclamation. If this is their view
we can only take ordinary precautions over the
guarantee.
I think, therefore, we may tell De Grelle,
Houdret and Co. that the question of the effectiveness
of their guarantee has been under consideration, that
if possible it would be better that they should and
to it some undertaking from their London bankers but
that in any case they should also require from the
firm to whom they import a further undertaking to
pay only de Grelle, Houdret & Co.
The Hans
Catt
KA
"2/10/05
Catt
"20115"
atmu
Any further communication should be addred tow
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, at the address given opposite,
The following letter and number should
be quoted :-
C.
31202
Telegraphic Address:
COLASTA, LONDON. Telephone No.: 3840 Victoria.
Sir,
BOARD OF TRADE,
(COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT),
WHITEHALL,
GWYDYR HOUSE,
C.O
44312
REC?
LONDON, S.W.
RFGE 27 SEP 15 25th September, 1915
With reference to your letter of the 21st Sep- tember, No. 41701/1915, I am directed by the Board of Trade to suggest for the consideration of Mr. Bonar Law, that the permission to Messrs De Grelle, Houdret and Company to import the Belgian goods in question into Hong- kong should be made conditional upon payment for the goods being deferred until the enemy occupation of Belgium has ceased, or payment being made into an account in a Bank
in this country and an undertaking obtained from the Bank that the money will not be allowed to be withdrawn while
the enemy occupation continues except under licence given
on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
The Board would also suggest that Messrs De
Grelle, Houdret and Company, should be asked to give an
undertaking in the terms of this condition, and that the
importer of the goods in Hongkong should be required to
produce to the Customs Authorities there upon taking
delivery of the goods, an undertaking that he will make
no payment for the goods except to Messfs De Grelle,
Houdret and Company.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
J
with regard to the sanction attaching to
the