!
The Under Secretary of State
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May 24th, 1916.
702
W
to which a reply has come from Mr. Douglass that Reise, Hongkong, are
consulting with London. It is really heart-breaking to face this loss
of time and money, and the risk to lose the business altogether, in ne-
gotiating with people so regardless of the obvious consequences. What-
ever must the Texas Company think of British methods of business!
Once more the matter is referred to London and so we are all the time
turning in a circle. And, worst of all, H.E. the Governor is made the
unconscious supporter of all this thoroughly un-British procedure.
Mr. Douglass adds to this answering cable of his:
"If cannot arrange with Keisa recommend own organization, ex-
pense staff office Hong Kong fifteen hundred mexican (dollars) Canton one thousand monthly, compradore half percent, other (expenses) same aa joint account." (1.e. expenses as now).
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and thus one link after the other, connecting this business with British interests, is wilfully broken a business built up by six years hard work! I quite realize the impossibility for the Government to inter- vene between my Company and keiss, as you were good enough to cable me; and yet, I was in hopes that Lesers. Reise in London could somehow be given a hint about the cumulative effect of their doings, disastrous for all concerned and for British prestige in general.
it is in fact because of this cumulative wrong-doing of Messrs. Reiss that my counsel repeats his strong opinion that with people of this "night-before-right" attitude there is only one way of dealing. This
is no further agreements and entanglements with them, at least not during the war, which I cabled you, seeing that you are probably aware that -Messrs. Reiss have made us - now at last and after breaking our agreement