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as having a moral claim. The money derived from the shipping control profits amounted to over two million dollars, which is at present invested in England pending a final decision as to the exact objecte to which it should be devoted. I do
not think that in view of all the circumstances it would be unreasonable to devote a part of it ( it would require
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about $400,000 ) to helping Mr. Moller to re-establish himself. It is undeniably a risky transaction. Mr. Moller's handling of the shipping business after his controlled ships were returned to him was not such as to afford my certainty
of future success but he is unquestionably a man of ability and it would be as much to his interests as to those of the Government to "run straight" and do his utmost to make the venture successful. I cannot help sympathizing - however illogically - with him in the matter of the shipping control as it must have been particularly galling to him to see large profits made by the Government out of the use of his ships, which were to nim only a source of loss.
If therefore you will agree to the suggestion that part of the money, which came to us as a windfall, should be devoted to what may perhaps te described as a gamble
I should be willing to accept Mr. Moller's proposal. I may add that there is still a considerable feeling in Shanghai and along the coast against this Government on the ground that Mr. Moller has not been fairly treated. It is not the local custom to read lengthy documents or to give careful study to both sides of a question and the only argment that
seems to be readily comprehended is this "Mr. Woller would
have made large profits if the Government had not taken
control of his ships; therefore he has been badly treated".
If the Government now assists to put him on
his legs again, a considerable amount of ill-feeling will
be removed which would probably be a good thing in the
interests of the Colony.
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