CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 373

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November 1913, Mr. Loftus Jones, of Hanson McNeill and

Jones, legal Adviser to Mr. Anton of Messrs. Jardine,

Matheson and Company, Shanghai, who as Mr. Keswick's

local agents had charge of the Ford Estate, wrote to

Mr. Platt, then Acting Crown Advocate, informing him

of the above facts. Mr. Jones pointed out that the

provisions of Mr. Ford's Will appeared to be void for

"uncertainty", but suggested that under the circum-

stances the Crown should forego its rights as ultimate

heir, and that a scheme should be drawn up and sanc-

tioned by His Britannic Majesty's Supreme Court

providing for the carrying out as well as might be of

the charitable intentions expressed. Mr. Platt replied

in a sympathethe but guarded manner, and, on all the

papers being handed to me on my return, I have adopted

the same attitude.

I enclose herewith copies of two letters of 17th

and 19th February 1914 from Mr. Anton to Mr. Jones with

reference to Mr. William Keswick's dealings with the

Trust Estate and as to its present condition. There

being no Widow with any legal claims and no ascertain-

able relatives to put forward a moral claim to benefit

there