CO129-432 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [3-5] — Page 671

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REISS & CO.

Red 12 JUN 16

Hongkong, 28th April, 1916.

His Excellency Sir F. H. May,

K.C.M.G..

Hongkong.

Sir,

!

As requested, I have the honour to inform you that a

reply to my telegram on the subject of the Texas Company Oil Agency has just been received from London as follows :-

"Oil impossible agres proposed Association (Sanders)

decision final."

I know that my home partners are as anxious to retain this important Agency as I am but the stumbling block is the suggested association with Messrs. Sanders Rehders in a joint agreement with the Texas Company. They are perfectly willing and have already offered to pay Messrs. Sanders Rehders an equit- for able return commission during the period we hold the Agency which it may be pointed out they will do practically nothing - but insist that the agreement shall be a direct one between the Texas Company and ourselves eliminating the name of Messrs. Sanders Rehders to whom they have taken the strongest exception and feel compelled to positively refuse any other association with them whatsoever. Knowing what Your Excellency does of this Firm's methods here, I do not think you will greatly wonder at this. I do not know whether influence can be brought to bear on Messrs. Sanders Rehders, through the "Colonial Office" to accept the

arrangement