CO129-440 - Others & Individuals - 1916 — Page 666

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Mr. Nađe Gardner

May 3rd, 1916.

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Of course, "Frits Reiss, Zimpem à Co." can please themselves with whom they desire to work, but their ultra-patriotism will not de- give others. Moreover, it is cheap patriotis of others, Their extraordinary attitude and demanda, se recorded

at the expense in their om letters, a peak for themselves and stand for all times, and I am sorry indeed for Mr.Holyoak who tried to make amends for them but so far failed to bring them back to reason and fair play,

This reason in reference to me (and therewith to our Company) is merely another pretext, in particular as they know that the Colon- ial Office and the Hongkong Governor consented that Reiss should be our agents, (and now they are proposed to be even the direct agenta of the Texas Co. with us), and that thus there is no impediment what- ever of a political nature, as eyidenced moreover by their Hongkong man's séceptance of this Joint-Agreement,

And do Reiss in London not realise that the more suggestion of this, coming from people of their ancestry and name, is particularly offensive. Can they actually believe that any British Government would ever interfere with honest naturalisation, would deprive people, denationalized in the sountry of their birth, as in my case, (as far back as in 1890), of the privileges and rights they sought and ao- quired by swearing allegiance to the British Crown (as I did as far back as in 1892) would in fact make them homeless.

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The very thought is a libel upon the Sovereign and his Govern- ment, suggesting nothing ankking leus than a breach of faith on the part of both. Have Reias actually forgotten the ruling of the Lord Chief Justice on the point, affecting as it does a number of their own naturalised friends, amongst them no doubt some who are not even pro- perly denationalised, if at all.

Now, having read this, look again at the cable you reccived and contemplate the unfortunate position Mr. Holyoak has been forced into by his home partners. I am sorry for him, although apparently he now lends himself to their plans, to the detriment of my Company, no doubt hardly realising what he is doing.

Having written so far, I just notios that I have overlooked the: "Reiss paying Janders Rehders return commission",

of your cable. As it is, I cannot even consider this proposal, seeing that no figure, as to the percentage of much a return, ia mentioned, nor has one been mentioned to us previously. In fact, in view of the feat