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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

ليبيا

Reference :-

885/25

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

70

The deliveries under the contracts, we are glad to report, are at the present time in advance.

worth Rs.233,786/18 has already been delivered to them.

18. The Morgan Crucible Company, Limited, inform us that these contracts have been made by them with the object of supplying plumbago to the Allied Governments, who are urgently in need of vast quantities of plumbago. This being so it follows that the scheme, apart from attaining the principal object for which it was formed, namely, safeguarding the interests of British creditors--has been & source of assistance to the Allied Governments in the prosecution of the War.

FORD, RHODES, THORNTON, & COMPANY,

Chartered Accountants.

SIR,

Enclosure 2 in No. 52.

Colombo, 27th May, 1916.

Mrs. Mary de Silva and Mr. Philip de Silva. WITH reference to our report of the 2nd instant, we have the honour to inform you that, owing to the recent rains, the four plumbago pits belonging to the above parties, and which are worked under a scheme sanctioned by the Court, have been flooded, with the exception of one pit. The extent of the damage, we are informed, is upwards of Rs.100.000, and the output of plumbago will be materially interfered with for several weeks to come.

We have, &c.,

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary,

Colombo.

31483

FREUDENBERG & COMPANY,

FORD, RHODES, THORNTON & COMPANY,

No. 53.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 10.19 a.m., 4th July, 1916.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 68.]

Controllers.

UNDER Section 5 of Ordinance 5 of 1916, sent by my despatch 9th May, No. 153,* Executive Council decided vest in Custodian property belonging enemy subjects, the policy being to convert all shares in companies into cash in order to stop enemy interest in the Colony. Unfortunately that part of your telegram 10th February stating private estate of individual partners should not be sold was overlooked, with result that some shares of individuals have been sold. Govern- ment of Straits Settlements is desirous of continuing policy of realizing all enemy subjects property and holding all proceeds to be invested in Exchequer Bonds. Would be glad to know whether you approve such action.-YoUNG.

* 27728.

+ No. 22.

31683

(No. 229.)

SIR,

1

No. 54.

HONG KONG.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 11th July, 1916.)

[Answered by No. 60.]

Government House, Hong Kong, 2nd June, 1916. WITH reference to the correspondence noted in the margin,* I have the honour to report on the measures which have been taken so far to comply with your instructions.

Telegrams: To Governor, 10th and 22nd February, 3rd March, 1st, 15th, and 16th May.

From Governor, 1st March and 9th May Despatches: To Governor, 24th February. Froin Governor, 7th March.

to introduce at an early date, and a copy of a 2. I enclose a draft Bill† which I propose

minute by the Attorney-General which explains some of the provisions of the Bill in greater detail than seemed necessary or desirable in the published objects and

reasons.

3. The policy set out in your code telegram of the 29th October, 1915, relating to trade-marks is being followed. The liquidators have been instructed to report infringements, and action is now being taken under the Merchandise Marks Ordinance, 1890, in one case so reported.

4. The private estates of partners will not be sold even in case of insolvency. 5. Immovable property and shares will be sold subject to the rights of secured creditors, whether enemy or non-enemy.

6. The instructions in your code telegram of the 16th May§ have been noted. In this connexion I have the honour to refer you to my despatch No. 227, of 1st June, referring to certain remittances to prisoners of war out of liquidation funds.

7. I have come to the conclusion that it is advisable that the direct liabilities of the local branches of the German firms should take precedence of any claims against other branches. One reason is that distribution might otherwise be delayed. Another is that in some cases some of the assets have already been distributed on that principle.

8. I hope to address you soon in a separate despatch on the subject of the German launches.

9. Sufficient power to direct any balance to be placed in the hands of the Custodian of Enemy Property seems to exist already under Section 5 (10) of Ordinance No. 28 of 1914.

10. I have given directions that all leasehold property must be sold by auction at a reserve based on either a valuation or the firm's own estimate of the value of the property, unless the owners shall have consented to accept an offer privately made. The amount of leasehold property belonging to German firms is small, and it all belongs to four firms.

11. The only cases of which I have definite information at present where branches of the German firms here existed in other parts of His Majesty's dominions are those of the Deutsch Asiatische Bank and Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg, & Company, but I am making further inquiries. The Norddeutscher Lloyd appear to have had assets at Singapore, and I am making inquiries about this case also.

12 The Deutsch Asiatische Bank had branches at Singapore and Calcutta. The local branch has a debit balance of about $160,000 with the Singapore branch, but a credit balance of about 490,000 rupees with the Calcutta branch. liquidator or controller of the Calcutta branch has refused to remit this balance to Hong Kong, and I would be glad to know if this matter should be pursued any further. I understand that the Singapore branch will have a large surplus. The local branch will probably have a large surplus also. I do not know what the position will be with regard to the Calcutta branch, but I am taking steps to

ascertain it.

The

13. The other case is that of Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg, & Company, which had a branch in London. I have no information as to the present position with regard to that branch.

* Nos. 22, 20, 27, 29, 37, and 41, and 8649, 21897, 46960, and 16796. + 47585. § No. 41.

|| 32627.

Not reprinted.