CO129-413 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [8-10] — Page 256

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(c). The rights of neutral banks in view of the conditions

contained in the letter of the 28th August annexed.

The last is the only point which is likely to cause any difric- ulty, and that will doubtless be satisfactorily arranged.

6.

The reason why the rights of such banks were not

dealt with before is that in the information received from the

German firms no mention was made of any liabilities to any banks except the three British banks referred to in the letters annexed. The only bank which has raised any objection is the

Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij.

7.

I am informed that as the German firms are

financed almost entirely from Europe, and will not be able to

obtain credit from the banks locally, the practical result of

the conditions laid down in the letter of the 29th August will

be to stop almost completely, at least for the present, any

future trading by the German subjects who have been allowed to

remain here. This result, whether desirable or not, appears to be inevitable. Austro-Hungarian commercial interests in the Colony appear to be of little importance.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

ཟ་

Governor,&c.