310
98
8. As regards the question of the sale of enemy planters' estates, I have given my careful consideration to Mr. Stubbs's despatch, No. 561, of the 16th September,* and I recognize the force of the arguments there adduced. Similar considerations also affect, to some extent, the proposal made in your telegram of the 11th October,† that the private estates of partners in enemy firms should be liquidated when the in my assets of the firms prove insufficient; and, accordingly. I informed you telegram of the 3rd January,‡ mentioned above, that the decision on each of these points was left to your discretion.
I have. &c..
59407
No. 78.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
WALTER H. LONG.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(No. 8.) SIR,
Downing Street, 8th January, 1917. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 438, of the 9th November, § and to inform you that, while in my Circular despatch of the 15th July, 1916,|| I indicated the policy being pursued by His Majesty's Govern- ment in the United Kingdom with regard to the application of the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916, it was not my intention to prescribe limits beyond which the Colonies should not go, but rather to suggest a possible line of procedure for any Colonies which had not yet taken the steps which have been thought advisable in this country.
2 I have no desire to see any alteration in the policy which is being pursued by your Government in respect of enemy shares or interests in companies registered in the Colony.
(No. 253.)
99
Enclosure in No. 79.
Office of the Controller of Revenue,
13th December, 1916. Mrs. Mary de Silva's and Mr. Philip de Silva's debts to Freudenberg & Company. SIR,
WITH reference to the telegram from the Secretary of State, dated 9th May, 1916, I have the honour to state that, on the application of the liquidators of Freudenberg & Company, and with the consent of the Attorney-General, I have authorized time being given up to the 31st July next to Mrs. Mary de Silva and Mr. Philip de Silva to settle up their debts to the enemy firm.
2. A scheme was sanctioned by the Court, during the course of the control of the firm, under which the de Silvas were given two or three years to pay off their British creditors, and an indefinite time to pay their debts to Freudenberg & Company.
3. The British creditors have been paid within a year, and there is every prospect of the debts to Freudenberg & Company being paid off at a far earlier date than would have been the case under the scheme approved by the Court.
4. I report the case, in view of the view expressed by the Secretary of State that the liquidations should, if possible, be finished by the end of March next.
5. A substantial reduction of the debt is to be given to the de Silvas, if they pay up by the date mentioned in paragraph 1 above. This measure has also been approved by the Attorney-General.
I am,
&c.,
A. S. PAGDEN, Custodian of Enemy Property.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
€2780
No. 80.
HONG KONG.
¡
3050
SIR,
No. 79.
CEYLON.
I have, &c.,
WALTER H. LONG.
(No. 16.)
SIR,
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 761.)
(Received 16th January, 1917.)
[Answered by No. 82.]
King's Pavilion, Kandy,
Ceylon, 19th December, 1916. WITH reference to my despatch No. 291, of the 2nd June, 1916, in reply to your telegram of the 9th May, 1916,** on the subject of the liquidation of the business of the firm of Messrs. Freudenberg & Company, I have the honour to enclose a copy of a letter, dated the 13th December, 1916, which has been received from the Custodian of Enemy Property, intimating that, on the application of the liquidators, and with the consent of the Attorney-General, he has authorized time being given up to the 31st July, 1917, to Mrs. Mary de Silva and Mr. Philip de Silva to settle their debts to Messrs. Freudenberg & Company. I have. &c..
JOHN ANDERSON,
Governor, &c.
* No. 70.
t No. 69.
1 No. 70.
§ No. 74.
|| 29709.
1 No. 52.
** No. 40.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
Downing Street, 19th January, 1917.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegrams, of the 25th October* and the 2nd December, inquiring as to the sale of the permanent assets of liquidated enemy firms. You will now have received my Circular despatch No. (2), of the 20th December,‡ dealing with the conditions of sale, to which I referred in my telegram of the 10th January.§
2. I regret the delay which occurred in dealing with the subject, but you will realize that it was desirable to secure uniformity of action, so far as possible. among the numerous Colonies concerned in this important and complex matter.
I have, &c.,
WALTER H. LONG.
62780
SIR,
(No. 23.)
No. 81.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
Downing Street, 19th January, 1917. WITH reference to my Circular despatch No. 2, of the 30th December, I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 18th January§ stating that the sale of the buildings of Messrs. Schmidt, Kusterman & Company, Penang, should be regarded as an exception from the general rule that only British subjects should be allowed to become purchasers of the permanent assets of enemy firms in liquidation.
* 51028.
† 67999.
‡ No. 75.
§ 62780.
I 2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
I,
Reference :-
CO.885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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