COPY.
93
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
About 87 #ases of merchandise, all skipped
before the outbreak of war, havs during the last year
arrived kere in various shipments transhipped from sheltering
anony steaners in Kanila and Sabeng.
The shippers in each case were a firm named *Hill Menke & Co." who drew on the various sonsignees («21
Chinese) through the Mersentile Bank of India Ltd. wko
negotiated the Bills and delivered up the dosusente against
acceptance, obtaining a guarantes in oner sese from the late
Mr. W. D. Grahan.
Sires the outbreak of war the firm "Hill☐ Menke
& Co." have been converted into a Limited sompany which was
registered in England in October 1914 as "Hills Monke & Co.
Ltd. and Mr. 0. T. Mẹnke, alleged as the former proprietor
of the late firm, who is an un-naturalized German, and his Bon
are Directors of the Company.
The consignees have now taken delivery of the
goods and the money lies at the Mercantile Bank of India Ltd.
in this solony and they desire to send the same to Hill.
Menke & Co. Ltd. who have already paid off the advanoes made
on the Billa by the Mercantile Bank of India Ltd. in Lordon
who had a lien on the goods.
I am not disposed to sonsent to this money
being sent until I sa satisfied that the late Hills Menke
& Co. were a wholly British firn.
It may be that Mr. C. T. Menke was not the
sole proprietor but had an enemy partner trading, say in
Germany, in which case kis partner's share of ownership in
these goods would still be retained as it could not pas
after the outbreak of war in the sireumetences detailed above, and kis share of the money would be liable to condemation.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.