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Worms & C°
Also at Cardiff, Newcastle, Hull & Goole
General Conditions for all Quotations, Contracts and Sales:
In case of strikes, lock-outs, restriction of workmen, or other unavoidable stoppages of collieries deliveries not to be binding upon us.

Grimsby, Dec. 15 1915
MM. Worms & Co
45, boulevard Haussmann - Paris

Dear Sirs,
We beg to confirm our lines of the 13th Inst & are in receipt of your valued respects of the 11th, contents of which are noted, best thanks.
We are sorry to report that we have not yet been able to secure the licenses for the two following voyages of the steamer "Argus" as the Government Authorities appear determined to stop the export of Derbyshire coals, which they intend to conserve for home consumption, so we are greatly afraid we may not secure the necessary permits for this steamer. MM. Burness & Sons tell us this morning that the Secretary of the War Trade Department is inclined to think we have a good case and asked if we would give an undertaking to stop all further shipments of Derbyshire coals if the license for the "Argus" S/S were granted, in reply to which, we authorised MM. Burness to give such undertaking on our behalf but only for chartered steamers but we stated we could not do so as far as supplies of these coals are concerned for our own steamers trading to Dieppe because our Dieppe House urgently require this particular class of coal, which has been used for a considerable number of years, and that West Yorkshire qualities - for which we may say the War Trade Department seem inclined to give favourable consideration to applications for licenses - would not meet the requirements of our Dieppe House, beyond which, we strongly pointed out that we must have a certain quantity of coal to stiffen each of our steamers to ensure safe navigation and in conclusion, we gave the Authorities to understand that in case of our applications being refused, our service of steamers between Grimsby and Dieppe might be discontinued, which would be a most serious matter for the French Government as such a stoppage would mean the loss of large supplies of merchandise, which our steamers are carrying regularly for the use of manufactories working under their control.
We consider the critical position justifies our putting forward such a strong statement as we know our Dieppe House urgently require all the coals they can obtain and in addition, they have given us to understand they cannot deal with full cargoes of goods on account of scarcity of labour and difficulties with railway working.
We are extremely thankful for the good offices of MM. Burness & Sons in this matter and we are glad to know you have thanked them for same, for which please accept our sincere obligations.
We remain, Dear Sirs,
Yours truly

[A. Robinson]