"but without wishing to cast any reflection
on the firm itself, he points cut the .
Firstly, the shareholders following facts. includes Messrs. *. S. Huller & Co., and Mr. Th. Lindner, the former manager of the
The former, as is firm Joh, Serla. notorious, has large enery connections, and Joh. Serle was reported by me in connection with coffee imports in which F.Canes & Zoon
The Rotterdansone Bank were in, licated. vereeniging have long since been marked out by His Majesty's Government as having enemy connections, end this point should be borne in mind even though they are not direct
Mr. Stodermann is a former ghareholders, employee of Diet.elm & Co., whp are describ- ed in "Who's Who" in the following terns:-
Their
*They were formerly described as German,
but are now stated to De Swiss. gym pamies, Tönever, are such that they may well be regarded as of enemy nationality.*
Their mane, however, appears in the hite List for Sin.
+
Secondly, Mr. van der star, who is travelling for the firm to Hong Kong, was formerly manager in at Blace for an enemy concern. Thirdly the firm desire to establish connec- tions in a region in which direct enemy 20- tion seems to have been largely suppressed,
I am entirely in accord with Mr. Graham's opinion that the protest caution should be exercis d in granting facilities to a cont cern ştarting under cuch auspicos.
In accordance with general instructions tis despatch is being sent through H.M.Legation at the Hague."
(2) A further report containing no materi:1 new information, but clearing up certain doubts as to the name of the company and referring to the incorporation by stodermann-and-Gomperts of the N.V. Holland Zwitsersone Handel Mij., was received in May.
(2) ! third report in the following terms was
received in September:-
"In reply to your despatch No.349 P.T.
(138050:45) of the 30th August, regarding
01 the Handelmaatschappij "Transparina", Amsterdam, I have the honour to inform you that a full report on this concern was for- warded in my despaton No. 628 of May 24
last.
1270 of
15.7.17
FR of 1.5.17.ete.
The
*Mr. Graham now states that he bas
ascertained that Mr. F. W. Lotz, who was recently appointed manager of the branch at New York is an American with vide experience of Oriental trade. company is making all preparations for extensive business, both import nd exort, after the var. The managers of their branches at Hong Kong and Buenos Aites are both of pronounced German connections, and the company would appear likely to become cerious cOLLE- titors of British her chants in the Eastern markets.
The company nas dane no business as yet, though it is mite possible that transactions may be carried out between the brendfeg bal re the war enda.
I am of opinion that this concern should be placed in Class "A".
In accordance with general instructions this despatch is being through E.M. Lecation at the hague.*
(r. Maxae is in error in referring to the
May despatch as containing the full report. It should be the Auril despatch (supra.)
j
335
Various intercepted letters suggest that the Rotterdamgone Banaverdenizing is greatly interested in the "Transforing": that it bel, ed to found the company in order to cotain after the war a larger Suare in the financing of importa from. oversens and possibly also to obtain indirectly a are on business in ods for their oméccunt; that it is pro- posed to open jotaer brancues at Ne... York, Calcutta end Shanghaf; that Lindner 128 been travelsing in Scandinavit, proceeding thence to Haiti and is expected to visit the United States and South America.
2.
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