COPY
C
677 36358
REC
REG 7 AUG 151
2 Metal Exchange Buildinge Leadenhall Avenue, E.C.
5 Aug., 1915.
•
The Rubber & Tin Exports Committee,
London, J.V.
Dear Sire,
We have your letter of yesterday's date and confirm our representative's interview of this afternoon regarding the landing of 600 slabs Tin ex. 8.8. "Fushimi Maru" at Marseilles.
Messrs. Mitsui & Co. from whom we nurchased this parcel were quite aware when the tin was shipped that
we required delivery in Marseilles and that although the Bills of Lading did not bear this option they were arranging the matter with the Shipping Company. Then the steamer was due at Karseilles in the absence of any advice from Messrs. Mitsui to the contrary we assumed the matter had been arranged and in accordance with usual custom we wired Mr. P.A.Young at Karseilles that e required delivery there. We understood from Messrs Mitsui all along that it was merely a question of storage whether the tin could be gothout at Marseilles, and we did not know and had not been advised by Kessrs. Mitsui, that no licence had been taken out for Marseilles until after the tin had been landed.
We have advised Kessrs. Mitsui that we could not take up the documents until the necessary Government formalities had been complied with and a licence obtained. Meanwhile the tin has been placed in warehouse at Harseilles for account Messrs. Mitsui.
We trust this letter will explain our position in the matter and we shall be glad to give you or the Colonial Office any further information which you may
require.
Yours faithfully,
Henry H.Merton & Co.Ltd.