37
of old standing that they have had no direct or im
direct trade communication with jomany cince the
beginning of the war.
»
1 sm not disposed to credit the accuracy of this
expiration. It is much more likely that w.
advertisement was inserted with the dcliber te object
of attracting the custom of buyers who might desire
to acquire antimony for export from wie United States
to foreign destinutione and who were unable to obtain
it from importers bound by guarantees given to his
Hajesty's Consul General. The objectionable words
were apparently only withdrawn as soon as the firm bʊ-
came aware that other branches of their business milit
be seriously injured thereby.
+
It is believed by more than one person eng ged
in the metal tride in ew York that, itsui and Com-
pany like most japanese houses, «re somewhat un-
scrupulous. There is however no evidence that they
have ever attempted to tride with many countries und
the Japanese Consul General speaks unreservedly in
their favour. It is probable that they will exercise
greater circumspection in future and 1 have the honour
to submit that you might accept their present assurances
warning them at the same time that any irregularity
on their part will ent:ll the stoppage of any supplies of material over which is "ajesty's Covernment exer-
cise control.
1 have &c.,
(signed) Cecil „pring ice.