CO129-440 - Others & Individuals - 1916 — Page 709

1

FI

= LAIS

9.LT.

J

PL !

IA

42

I

....

23 Kutur EL.

Voi.

*

XL.

The Under Secretary of State - 11

May 24th, 1916.

708

no doubt fall into line once they know that H.E. the Governor sanotions

an agency, jointly with my Company, merely substituting Messrs. Dodwelle

for Messrs. Reisa & Co.; and when they realize, as they do by now, that the Texas Company will not consider any other agency unless we are con-

cerned in it, or chose to self-eliminate ourselves.

This we certainly cannot do in all the circumstances;

and it

is perhaps superfluous if I add that, even should we do so hereafter

(for purely basiness reasons), we still would have to insist that before

doing so, we are in possession of an unqualified and authoritative de-

nial of this serious statement as to the refusal to my Company of port

and cable facilities in Hongkong.

At any rate, the predominant point and policy at present must be to keep the Texas Company from establishing their own organization

in Hongkong, fatal alike to my Company and to British interests; and I

therefore do trust to soon receive the cable permit solicited, about

which you were qnquiring in Hongkong now eight days ago.

It is a fortunate fact, in all this misfortune, that business

in Kerosene is exceedingly slack in Hongkong at present, because of the

summer months and the political (domestic) disturbances in China. But

for this, the slender cord, still connecting this business with British interests, would have broken ere now.

I have the honor, to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant

dite

Managing Director, Sanders, hehdera & Co. Ltd.,

London, E.C.