CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 121

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BOARD OF TRADE,

116

(Commercial Department),

Gwydyr House,

Whitehall

London, S.W.

21st February, 1916,

Gentlemen,

With reference to your letters of the 12th and 25th January, addressed to the Colonial Office, I am directed by the Board of Trade to state that they will offer no objection to your entering into such negotiations with the enemy ship- owners or other persons and making to them such payments for freight and other charges as may be necessary to enable you to obtain possession of the four cases of enamelled mugs marked

он

1/4

6622

Hong Kong

on the s/s "Sigmaringen", refuging at Syracuse, in respect of which you claim a lien, on the conditions set out below.

It is understood that, notwithstanding the lien, the goods retain their enemy character, and that the goods are to be shipped in a British vessel to Hong Kong, and the Board have made arrangements with the Colonial Office to ensure that, in the event of the goods being seized as prize, the Colonial Authorities will be autorised, on production of sufficient evidence of your title, to procure the payment to you out of the proceeds of the goods of the amount of your lien and reasonable expenses leaving only the balance, if any, to be dealt with in the Prize Court.

You should notify the Governor of Hong Kong of the date when, and the vessel by which, the goods will be shipped.

The enclosure which accompanied your earlier letter is returned herewith.

I am,

Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant,

Messrs. The Russo-Asiatic Bank,

64, 01d Broad Street,

E. C.

(Sgd.)

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