CO129-417 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 437

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GOVERNMENT POLICY.

that it would be carrying out this object if the British Companies discontinued these Agencies. In fact, however, it would not hurt the enemy, but would injuriously affect that section of British Foreign commerce represented by Insurance. The business which reaches the Insurance

Companies through these agencies is not the property of the Companies to be disposed of as they may think best in their own interests, but is, as already pointed out, largely subject to the control and disposition of the Agents.

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At the very best, therefore, all that a British

Company could hope for on the withdrawal of its Agency would be, by the power of its good name, to preserve some of the connections less strongly-held by its late Agent.

But even for these it would have to fight, and, we can

assure the Board of Trade, with little expectation of

BUCCESS. While the War continued it would see ita

rivals very possibly German Insurance Companies -

taking over its business, and when the War was concluded,

it would be confronted with, in addition to the increased

competition, a public educated to the fact that it is not England alone among foreign countries that can provide adequate Insurance facilities. It would have the

conaciousness that its sacrifice had not only caused no

less to the enemy country but in some cases had actually

benefited it.

That this is not the desire or intention of the

Government is manifest from the observation of Sir John