Telegrams- "SHIPMINDER, PARL, LONDON." Telephone-WHITEHALL 5140.
Any further communication on this
bet should be addressed to :—
The Assistant Secretary,
Mercantile Marine Department
(address as opposite)
and the following number quoted :—
M. 13736/37.
sir,
C. O. F
MERCANTILE MARINE DEPARTMENT,
BOARD OF TRADE,
GREAT GEORGE STREET,
12.
23
LONDON, S.W.1.
12th November, 1937.
With reference to your letter of the 23rd October (53856/37) regarding the proposed acquisition by the
Indo-China Steam Navigation Company of four steamers
formerly belonging to the China Merchants' Steam
Navigation Company, 1 am directed by the Board of Trade
to state, for the information of
Mr. Secretary Ormsby Gore, that they understand that
these ships were built out of monies loaned by the
Board of Trustees for the Administration of the Boxer
Indemnity Fund to the China Merchants' Steam Navigation
Company. The Board are not in possession of a copy of
the formal contract relating to the loan. They have
ascertained, however, that according to the provisional
contract dated the 7th August, 1933, the China
Merchants' Steam Navigation Company may not dispose of
the whole or any part of the ships without the formal
/approval
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
S.W.1.