:
Copy
Ellerman & Bucknall Steamship Co.. Ltd.
The Controller,
5 & 6, Billiter Aven
E.C.
534
48475.
REG? 10 OCT 16
October 9th, 1916.
Foreign Trade Department,
Lancaster House,
St. James, S.W.
Bir,
"KAFUE" S/S.
We beg to refer to our letter of 6th instant hereon, following our conversation with you. We have now received cable as follows from our Hong
Kong Agents:-
"Government contend have not taken delivery and no liability attaches to them because "Kafue" documents not being in order
further information was required regarding ultimate consignees before cargo could pass through this port they further contend transhipment here not necessary as steamer could have waited until receipt informa- tion re ultimate consignees reply".
In another cable our Agents inform us that
thereare 600 tons goods concerned in the Government action and which now apparently you have released. The cost incurred in landing, storing, reshipping and in forwarding by local steamer to destination is
estimated about 9,000 dollars.
We will be exceedingly obliged if you will give immediate attention to have this matter dealt with in the best possible way, as there is no doubt continued detention of the goods at Hong Kong is likely to still further aggravate the situation with the Consignees and possibly to increased damages.
As you are acquainted with the situation, we need not comment on the above cable Bxcept to
submit that the statement in the cable is one which