TI"
514805
The Under Secretary of State
-2-
543 22/6/1915.
China, in order to give greater security to that bank which
financed our previous shipments for us. However, as we have
financed the present cargo with the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank-
ing Corporation, it follows that this lease should now be
transferred either to the Texas Company which is paying the
rent of the godown, or to the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking
Corporation (though it has not made this stipulation).
It is moreover evident that, should the Chartered
Bank refuse, for some reason or other, to accede to this 1
neither the Texas Company nor we would be further liable for
the rent of this godown which is considerable, and we are Bure
that the bank will not think of paying the rent.
For your
confidential information, we should add that Messre. Shewan
Tomes & Co. are apparently trying to make this nominal and
supposed hold of the Chartered Bank upon the godown support
their application to work the Canton part of the business.
This would explain the erroneous information you have received
in regard to this matter of storage.
Since writing you on the 16th inst., we received a
call from the senior partner (now in London) of a British firm
in Hongkong of first class standing and repute, (which is
liquidating one of the German houses in Hongkong), this
gentleman being desirous of entering into business relations,
in general, with this Company. This general arrangement with
his firm would include their opening an office in Canton to