:
Mr. Fade Gardner
May 3rd, 1916.
645
Of course, "Frits Reiss, Zimman & Co." can please themselves with whom they desire to work, but their ultra-patriotism will not de- ceive others. Moreover, it is cheap patrictiam - at the expense
of others. Their extraordinary attitude and demands, as recorded in their own letters, speak for themselves and stand for all times, and I am sorry indeed for Mr.Holyoak who tried to make amends for them but so far failed to bring them back to reason and fair play.
This reason in reference to me (and therewith to our Company) is merely another pretext, in particular as they know that the Colon- ial Office and the Hongkong Governor consented that Reiss should be our agents, (and now they are proposed to be even the direct agenta of the Texas Co. with us), and that thus there is no impediment what- ever of a political nature, as exidenced moreover by their Hongkong man's acceptance of this Joint Agreement.
And do Reiss in London not realize that the mere suggestion of this, coming from people of their ancestry and name, ia particularly offensive. Can they actually believe that any British Governant would ever interfere with honest naturalization, would deprive people, dens tionalized in the country of their birth, as in my case, (as far back as in 1890), of the privileges and rights they sought and so- quired by swearing allegiance to the British Crown (as I did as far back as in 1892) - would in fact make them homeless.
The very thought is a libel upon the Sovereign and his Govern- ment, suggesting nothing zeiking less than a breach of faith on the part of both. Have Reiss actually forgotten the ruling of the Lord Ohief Justice on the point, affecting as it does a number of their own naturalised friends, amongst them no doubt some who are not even pro- perly denationalized, if at all.
Now, having read this, look again at the cable you received and con template the unfortunate position Mr. Holyoak has been forced into by his home partners. I am sorry for him, although apparently he now lende himself to their plana, to the detriment of my Company, no doubt hardly realising what he is doing »
Baving written so far. I just notice that I have overlooked the: "Reiss paying Sanders Rehders return commission",
of your cable. As it is, I cannot even consider this proposal, seeing that no figure, as to the percentage of such a return, is mentioned, nor has one been mentioned to us previously. In fact, in view of the fact