CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918 — Page 262

I. of Mr. succeed in their policy

the effect

with be to theep the price of lingoten to

The British manufacturer

Slove

the rential manufacturer.

be bultor

in the long

Ko that the the

a^

thai

that to

It would

to face the purchases as patyllw

Lon

cost of the war.

Best un delsfand

thate would be difficulties with the Fleamary However, for the present, as perponed?

Mr

21.1215

23/12

Aluc

G.G.

Any further communication should be addressed to-

THE SECRETARY,

And the following latter and number should be quoted:-

CRV/C/521.

Telegraphic Address: Munorgize, London. Telephone Number: Victoria, 8700.

Sir,

MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS OF WAR,

WHITEHALL PLACE,

258

LONDON, S. W. 1.

er 1918.

€0761

URGENT

2.0. 59886 straito Retterq/c/521 of the 11th December, concerning shipments of Wolfram Ore to this country,

In continuation of this Department REC

I am directed by the Minister of Munitions to state, for the inform- ation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Messrs. A.J. Watson & Company have received the following telegram from the Eastern Tungsten Company of Hong Kong :-

H

re...

"Referring to your telegram of 25th cannot understand you

cannot buy at present as since 10th November shipments are being made here to Singapore, Port Darwin and Sydney for reshipment to England. If this method perfectly regular we can also offer via the Straits at 58/-. Please send copy of this telegram Minister of Munitions and telegraph reply. 1P

I am to request that, if Mr. Long sees no objection, telegraphic enquiries should be made of the Governor of Hong Kong as to whether the statements contained in this telegram are correct. If it should

prove that they are correct, it would appear that certain shippers are endeavouring to use Australian ports for disposing of stocks of Wolfram which H.M.Government are under no obligation to purchase, and that attempts are being made to ship non-British Wolfram, not only through Hong Kong and the Malay Ports, but also through Australian Ports. In the circumstances, Mr. Churchill considers it desirable that all shippers of British Ore, not only at Hong Kong and in the Malay Ports, but also in Australian and New Zealand Ports, should be required to provide themselves with the certificate of origin referred to in this Department's letter of the 11th December.

Moreover, he considers that

this Certificate should be accompanied by a sworn declaration on the part of the shipper. I am accordingly to request that subject to Mr. Long's concurrence, telegrams to the above effect may be sent to the Governor of Hong Kong, the Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States, the Commonwealth Government of Australia, and the New Zealand Government, and that they