CO129-587-8 Crown leases 18-4-1940 - 17-3-1941 — Page 27

Milonien

Ashdown Forest Hotel

Dear Mr Gent

Forest Row

5 10 1940

10

27

Many factors have contributed to del y in replying b your letter of the 4th September. Amongst them are those relating to my house being taken over by the military necessitating my taxing my quatt ers up herex; the difficulties of travel to London; the aerial risks and delays involved; and,not least the primary importance of the work on the land I am now undertaking.

In w

possibi-

that ,if they had materialised,would have rendered the whole question of Crown leases purely academical.

lities in Edition the position

the ar ast have been such

But apart from all that "I have been waiting for a reply from Hongkong in respect of one point on which there is a direct conflict of statement and which my side,at any rate, regard as of con-

iderable importance.

If my recollection is at all to be relied upon my side are right and the Government side are wrong.

However a wet day has now enabled me to complete the work of a good many hours in digesting and 'passing

upon the

many various points of controversy and of allegation on both sides.

I have still to se my people in