CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918 — Page 142

COPY

37047

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133581/C. & T, (a).

REG AUG REICH OFFICE, S.W. 1.

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July 26th, 1918.

139

With reference to the letter from this Department No.115500, of July 11th, enclosing a copy of a letter addressed to the Ministry of Shipping, I am directed by Sir L. Worthington Evans to transmit a copy of a letter from the Ministry of Shipping relative to the carriage of cargo for Switzerland by Japanese ships.

The crux of this matter is the question whether the spare cargo space on Japanese vessels loading in the East would in any case be employed for the carriage of cargo to neutral countries or whether there is a possibility of its being filled with cargo for Allied countries. It appears that the Ministry of Shipping are of opinion that although His Majesty's Government can take no action to prevent Japanese Vessels loading cargo for Switzerland in Japanese ports and other ports in the East, it does not necessarily follow that in the absence of cargo for Switserland, cargo for Allied countries would not be loaded, The Ministry of Shipping are understood to hold the opinion that a demand for cargo to be sent to France or Italy from the East does in point of fact exist. French and Italian purchasers are said to be continually pressing for facilities for bringing Eastern produce to French and Italian Mediterranean porta. Sir L. Worthington Evans understands that so far from having enough tonnage calling at Bstern ports, the French and Italians are ready to pay high rates for neutral vessela which refuse to come into the war zone to bring such commodities to Egypt where they are transhipped to France and Italy at great expense and inconvenience.

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