CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6] — Page 630

then man Sandes

Rehders He не

about which we have ahead had a communicates

1.Mn for: full formation.

nother respects

no action

I think

required.

06.29.7.05 Ar

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➜ CONFIDENTIAL.

A.

losures

で

Sir,

REC

33837

Red 22 JUL 15623

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 18th. June, 1915,

With reference to the telegraphic correspond-

ence noted in the margin, decodes of which messages are attached, and to Mr. Harcourt's Confidential Despatch of the 24th. of April, I have the honour to inform you that after careful consideration I have come to the conclusion that I should not be justified in refusing to permit Mr. Backhouse, a former employee of the Firm of Sander, Wieler and Company, to act as Agent for or to buy from the firm of Messrs. Sanders Rehders and Company. The latter firm is permitted to trade in England. Its composition shows a strong foreign element and its action in nominating first Mr. Schlüter and

then Mr. Cheetham for the Agency in Hongkong of the Texas Oil Company was open to suspicion. But if on these grounds I were to

refuse to permit Mr. Backhouse to act for the firm or to buy from them I must be prepared to refuse to allow any one to do the same or in other words to prevent the firm from trading in Hongkong al- -together. This would involve embarking on a new policy which has not received your sanction, and it is doubtful whether there exists

the legal power to enforce it.

There appear to be some grounds for suspecting that in the Texas Oil business Messrs. Sanders Rehders and Company Limited will really be acting in the joint interests of themselves

and essrs. Reuter Bröckelmann and Company but the evidence does

not

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREY BONAR LAW, M.P.,

&C..

&c..

&C...

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