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certainly conveys no other meaning to the Chinese public than
the fact that this is an official announcment. Am I right?
Nr. 00: I note from the agree ent that originally either party could
terminate the agreement by giving three month's notice.
fow
days after the conclusion of the agreement a supplccuentary agree-
ment was executed whereby the term is extended to a period of
five years.
Hr. Forrest:
A.
Yes, with certain exceptions,
What were the circumstances which made it necessary to extend
the agreement ?
I had become aware of a sponsored movement against the general
agency system which was founded on no good reason - that word I
use nûvisedly because in fact I think it was founded on very bad
Peabonn. It hed its origin wongst the people than I have
qualified as disappointed racketeers and i wished to ensure that
the agreement was not upset if that movement gathered force.
Chairman: hat exactly do you moan? You and Mr. Kobza are the
parties to the agreement. Under the agreement as it originally
stood, notice une to be given either by Mr. Kobza or by you.
A.
who
There was no third party who could intervene and bring that
agreement to an end. You became aware of this sponsored
movement against the general agency syeton but you were also
avare from the outset that it vs inspired by wlaked and corrupt
motivon.
Therefore you were not going to be swayed or influenced
be it in any way.
It at me in a
difficult position. I was afraid people higher
in the service might be swayed by this, might weaken in response
to the public clamour.
You wre afraid someone in a position to give orders to you
night bo inluensod and order you to bring the agreement to an
end; and so, rather than report what you knev and place your
facts on record, you took this rather radical step of giving a
five years' term?
Yoa. I am not sure that i had not by that time reported this
ramp in the papers. I am not cure that I have the data here.