211
363
9. I do not think there can be any doubt that the financial control which this firm has obtained over so large a part of the cocoa production of the Colony has had the effect of diverting the trade from the United Kingdom to other markets.
26489
9th May, 1918.
H. B. WALCOTT,
Collector of Customs.
Sub-enclosure to enclosure 3 in No. 174.
RETURN SHOWing percentage of Exports of Cocoa to UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, GERMANY, AND FRANCE FOR THE YEARS 1900 To 1913
INCLUSIVE.
1904 Crop, 40,753,776 lbs.
1900 Crop, 30,389,808 lbs,
1901 Crop, 80,154,768 lbs.
1902 Crop, 37,585,184 lbs.
1903 Crop,
86,154,048 Hus.
United Kingdom
percentage. 98-6
percentage.
81.1
percentago.
percentage.
22.7
25.5
percentage. 18.5
United States of
America
27.5
30 8
83-4
42.0
84.5
Germany
1-1
0.6
0'9
0-8
1:0
France.
30-7
33-1
40.6
27.7
40-7
1905 Crop,
48,416,266 lbs.
1900 Crop, 27,570,928 Tbs.
1907 Crop, 49,780,576 lbs.
1909 Crop, 51,475,104 lbs.
percentage.
percentage.
percentage.
percentage.
United Kingdom...
13.9
18.5
14.9
10-7
United States of America
48.8
54.9
83.5
42-3
Germany
0-2
1.1
0.2
1-8
France
38.8
28.1
48.7
40-1
1910
Crop,
57,868,640 lbs.
1911 Crop, 49,790,832 lbs.
1912
Crop, 41,825,625 lbs.
1918 Crop, 48,116,877 lbs.
percentage.
percentage.
United Kingdom...
9.4
11.2
percentage.
9.2
percentage.
8.2
United States of Amerios
44.5
58.6
58.9
49-2
Germany...
3-9
8-1
1-8
2.2
France
36.5
22-2
24.3
32 5
SIR,
No. 175.
JAMAICA.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Answered by No. 177.]
Downing Street, 30th June, 1916. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Bonar Law to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, a copy of correspondence with the Governor of Jamaica relative to the liquidation of enemy firms, together with a copy of an ordinance recently passed by the Colonial Legislature providing for the winding up of the busi- nesses of such firms.
To Governor, Confidential, 18th February, 1916 (including copy of Report of Cou- mittee for convenience).
Governor, Confidential, 20th May, 1916. Jamaica Law, No. 29 of 1916. Report on law, 5th May, 1916.
2.
It will be seen from paragraph 5 of the Governor's despatch of the 20th May, and the minute by the Attorney-General enclosed therein, that before the War the firm of Wessels & von Gontard consisted of three German subjects, apparently domiciled in New York, and another German named Louis Wessels naturalized in Jamaica. This partnership was dissolved some time after the out- break of war, and Louis Wessels took over the Jamaica business. Later on he admitted his nephew, Walter John Wessels, who is believed to be a natural-born American citizen, as a partner in the Jamaica business. As at present con- stituted, therefore, the firm consists of a neutral partner and a British subject naturalized in the Colony. It will also be seen that Louis Wessels has been treated as a German in Trinidad, where also he has business interests. Light is thrown on the enemy associations of Louis Wessels and his former partners in New York by a despatch of 17th November, 1914,† in which the Governor reported on the arrest of the former under the Official Secrets Act. A copy of this despatch was sent to the Foreign Office on the 19th February, 1915.
It,
3. The firm of Wessels & Nephew, as at present constituted, could no doubt be dealt with under section 3 (e) of the accusative law, as the Attorney- General points out in the third paragraph of his minute of the 14th April; or probably under section 3 (b) or 3 (c), if the firm is carrying on trade for the benefit of any of the former German partners in New York. But, although section 4 of the law provides that the Colonial Secretary's certificate shall be conclusive evidence of enemy character or association for the purpose of section 3 (e), Mr. Bouar Law does not consider that the firm should be deprived of the opportunity, if desired, of contesting the allegation of enemy association in the local courts. will be within Sir E. Grey's recollection that, in the case of the firm of Messrs. P. H. Scheerer & Company, of Trinidad, a similar provision in the law of that Colony was repealed in order to enable Mr. Scheerer to pursue his legal remedy in the Trinidad courts. Also, although (as will be seen from the enclosed copy of the report of the Attorney-General on the law) section 4 of the Jamaica law was in fact based on section 3 of the Straits Settlements Ordinance No. 29 of 1914 (copy here- with), I am to point out that the Governor of the Straits Settlements has recently been instructed to modify that ordinance on the lines of section 3 of Hong Kong Ordinance No. 28 of 1914 (copy also enclosed), which makes the certificate of the Colonial Secretary prima facie evidence of enemy character, and puts the onus of proving the contrary upon the alleged alien enemy.
4. Mr. Bonar Law considers that section 4 of the Jamaica law should be amended on similar lines; and, subject to Sir E. Grey's concurrence, he will instruct In the Governor to proceed accordingly before action is taken under the law. addition, certain amendments to section 5 on the lines of amendments already made in the corresponding section of the Straits Settlements Ordinance will be suggested to the Governor, but it is unnecessary to trouble Sir E. Grey with details of these amendments.
5. Mr. Bonar Law also proposes to inform the Governor that, when the law has been amended, he should take action against Wessels & Nephew under
| 48167.
* Nos. 170 and 178.
Q 2.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
FEC.O.885/25
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COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO