CO129-440 - Others & Individuals - 1916 — Page 543

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offered you that we would increase the acmmission, arranged under

No. 2 of our "heads", from 2 1/2 %% to 3%, which amply compensates

you for this item and you have the satisfaction of Cheetham' a

elimination for nothing !

—

You agreed on all the other points, excepting as to our

demand that you should pay Mr. Cheetham's salary. On the lat

October you wrote: "We may say we are quite in agreement as to the

points enumerated, with the exception of the salary payable to Mr.

Humphrey Cheetham".

As to the point of having the commission calculated on the

Belling price, you asked me, in that letter, to make a special point

of it in my negotiations with the Texaco. This request you could

hardly put into safer hands than in mine, seeing that my Company was

concerned, as much as you, in obtaining this concession from the

Texaco; and, naturally, I have done my best but failed · particular-

ly, however, because of the Texaco's Justified dissatisfaction in

general with the management of their affairs in Hongkong arising

from the interference with their business by all and sundry in that

Colony. Therefore we must leave this point for a later, more pro-

pitious occasion. Of course, I shall be only too glad to raise

this point with them once more before I tell them that you were

agreeable to sign their contract. That is all I can do and that

settles this point (head 4).

A to No. 3 of our "heade", we in London are, as be-

fore, quite willing to make the term of any arrangement between us

three years, subject of course (as was naturally always understood)

that the Texaco does not withdraw the agenoy, which they would only

do however in case your people did not satisfy them. koreover, in-

stead of this term of three years as our subagents, you are now in

a far better position as the direct representative, with us, of the

Texaco as under the proposed Texas contract. That disposes of this

point also. As in the case of Cheetham, your position has, in fact,

been improved.

Moreover, I have proposed to Mr. Carroll, by last mail,

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