CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6] — Page 707

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retain their interest in the Agency if they could, hence their desire from the first to put in Mr. Richter who is in their employ, and that Messrs. Sanders Rehders while anxious to get rid of them as the Agency in South China could be run much more cheaply then by paying heavy comissions to Messrs. Heuter Brockelmann and Company, wished to have the assistance of Messrs. Reuter Brockel- -mann as they did not themselves understand the business.

He emphasized the fact that the tripartite agreement between the Texas Company, Messrs. Sanders Rehders and Messrs. Reuter Bröckelmann had been terminated and that the latter's interests had now been eliminated.

4.

On a review of the case I come to the conclusi- -on that as Mr. Schluter camot visit the Colony during the dura-

-tion of the war and on the conditions mentioned in my telegram

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of the 16th instant, Mr. Cheetham who has severed his connection with Messrs. Reuter Bröckelmann and Company might be accepted as the Agent of Messrs. Sanders Rehders and Company.

5.

Since the enquiry described in this Despatch

I have discovered the enclosed letter from lessrs. Sanders Rehders and Company to lessrs. Reuter Bröckelmann and Company among lir. Schlüter's papers. This letter strengthens the suspicion that Messrs, Reuter Brockelmann Lay still retain a clandestine interest in the agency. On the other hand the letter may refer to some arrangement whereby this firm may resume the agency at the end of the war.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

Governor,&c. .