COPY
62
SHANGHAI, 9th September 1937.
The Commission on Aeronautical Affairs, National Government of China,
NANK ING.
Dear Sirs,
With reference to the Agreement dated 23rd August whereby our Hongkong office are to act as Receiving and Forwarding Agents for your material arriving at Hongkong, we regret very much that up to the present our efforts to assist you have, for reasons beyond our control, not been successful. The con- gestion on the Docks, Wharves and Lighters has been unprecedented and has rendered free movement of cargo impossible. To make matters worse the recent typhoon has caused considerably damage to the Canton-Kowloon Railway and our latest advices indicate that resumption of traffic cannot take place before another ten days.
We cannot advocate shipment of your material by steamer, under whatever flag, from Hongkong, and our fears in respect of this form of transport are justified by reports appearing in the press on 7th September to the effect that Japanese warcraft are interfering with shipping plying between Hongkong and Canton. This is confirmed by a telegram from our Hongkong Office despatched on 7th inst.
Our Hongkong Office has received from the Bank of China the sum of £900 - for the first quarters' remuneration for their service, but because of our inability to assist you under the present difficult circumstances we prefer to refund this sum, and should conditions change we will later render to you an account for fees commensurate with our services. Needless to say the amount of the amended fees would not exceed the sum laid down in the Agreement.
We are, Dear Sirs,
Yours faithfully,
(signed) JARDIN¿? MATHESON & CO. LTD.