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COPY.
6578
REC!
REG 5 FEB 17
295
Hongkong 4th. December, 1916.
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sir,
We understand that the ultimate disposal of Four
Norwegian steamers now being constructed by the Hongkong and
Whampoa Book Company is under sånsideration by H. M. Government.
We are not aware as to what is contemplated in this connection,
but we understard that in somewhat similer oases such neutral
Vessels have been completed by builders and turned over to
British Shipping Pirma to operate at agreed rates of charter hire.
should our surmise be correct we shall be glad if you will lay
before His Excellency the urgent call for tonnage on our line
operating between Calcutta, Hongkong and Japan. As you are aware,
the peculiar circumstances governing this particular trade, especia
-lly with regard to Japanese competition, are well known both to
the Home Government and to the Government in India. At the out-
break of the War we fully represented the critical state of
affairs which would exist if the steamers of this line vere
requisitioned and we were informed by the Indian Government that
the Secretary of State had telegraphed to the effect that the
vessels in question were not to be conmandeered unless the
necessity was urgent. In view of this ruling and with the
assistance of other steamers of the Fleet we have been more or less”
able to maintain the continuity of this importert service. From
time to time, however, at the request of the Home Transport
Department we have had to carry large consignements of War
material from Calcutta to Vladivostock at nominal rates and while
we consider it fair and reasonable that all Steamship Companies
should bear their burden of National tonnage requiremente, we
would say that the requisitioning of the space in question has
been the means of disorganizing to a considerable extent the carriage of gunniee from India to Canada and American ports.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.