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Mr. Fade Gardner
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May 3rd, 1916. 643
That this acceptance was subject to the London partners' ratification does not of course alter the fact that Mr. Holyoak, the responsible head of the Hongkong firm moreover a Director of your Bank and in close touch with the Hongkong Government (being a member of its Legislative Qouncil) did accept this agency contract Jointly with us; and it in a
further fact that Downing Street addressed, on the 4th January last, letter to my Company, stating:
蟲
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Bonar Law to inform you that the Govemor of Hongkong reports that Mr.Cheetham has resigned his post.
Sir F. H. May atatea that he is prepared to recognise Kesars. Keiss and Company provided that they are appointed to be your agents at both Hongkong and Canton."
And yet, we are now, all at once, confronted by this extraor- dinary cable.
Obscure as all this must appear to you at first sight, it is quite clear in the light of the further fact that, although both the Hongkong and Londen firms are bound by contract with my Company, entered into only in June last,
"that they will at no time hereafter is still in fores or not
whether this Agreement attempt or consent to acquire or to accept for themselves and or others, nor will they cause or assist others to acquire, the agency or sub-agency of the said Texas Company and its business, nor shall they be in any way interested therein without the Company's consent in writing.*
they nevertheless wish (as evidenced cace more by this cable) to acquire this agency without my Company's consent. It is here where the breach of contract referred to overleaf would be committed; accentuated morewa
by the fact that I have distinctly cabled Emgkong only on the 24th ulto. that the Texas Company will on no account sign any other contract but