[copy.
M.D.
Dear Sirs,
442
Marseilles 16th, July, 1918.
Tea Shipments to Switzerland.
We beg to enclose
herewith copy of a telegram just received from Hong- kong regarding shipments effected by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., Shanghai of:
2,000 packages Tea per s.s. "Saigon-Maru
945
#
"Sumatra-Maru"
to Marseilles.
We are greatly surprised to hear that the Hong- kong Authorities will not permit these shipments to be consigned to the "S.S.S. (Societe Suisse de Surveill- ance Economique,) notwithstanding the fact that the
goods were shipped from Shanghai, and we surmise that this is due to a misinterpretation of the British
Government's orders.
As a matter of fact, your Shanghai friends have already shipped other lots of Tea by Japanese steamers to Mare eilles without any difficulty being encounter-
ed.
Cessrs. Matheson & Co.,Ltd.,
The above
London.