CO129-430 - Others & Individuals - 1915 — Page 129

Colonies.

5. Mr.Donat Law la of opinion- that If it is decided to make the

liquidations complete at this stage

the estates of German firms will

suffer owing to the fact that their

goodwill will have depreciated con-

siderably since the beginning of the

not met that!

war: but it is thought probablə in

but it

view of the hostile attitude of e.g.

the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce

that this depreciation will continue, What manis of

and that after the war, the goodwill

war

of these German houses will be worth-

less except in the event of a decisive

German victory or some extraordinary

The

their depreciation will contruer to progress, while the war durny The contenance of the

change of opinion among British Commu

traders in the Colony and in these

ato is probable,

circumstances Mr. Benar Lay considers-

in the interests of the estates

that/in

bar and

apeat pure the

considual cons refored

to in the preceding

of these German firms there is strong par that it could be

to make

reason for making their liquidation

DRAFT.

į

complete even now.

6.

124

In view of the important ques-

tion of policy involved I am to suggest

for the consideration of Sir E. Grey......

Sir J. Simon The Board' Mr. Chamberlain

that the matter should be discussed by

Home Officer the

representatives of the Foreign Office,

The India Office, the Board of Trade, and

the Colonial Office in conference; and

I am to enquire whether a representative

of your department could attend auch a

conference at this office, and if so

when it would be most convenient for him

to do so.

I am,

etc.,

~(dighed H. J. READ.

for the Under Secretary oÍDAJTE

complete

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