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Worms & Cie

Cardiff, 17th April 1916
Messrs Worms & C° Paris

Dear Sirs,
H.C. Vivian & C°. Your letter of the 12th inst. puts a question which is exercising a good many people locally, and to which no definite answer so far as we can say can yet be given by any outsider. It has always been understood that the bulk of the late Senior Partner's money remained in the firm in which Mr. Fred Vivian had only a small interest. Latter had not attended to business for a very long time prior to his death, and the whole management has been in the hands of Mr. Cratchley, who, for reasons best known to himself has never been particularly friendly towards us, although absolutely no cause exists for such an attitude. If he can ever get hold of a Marseilles boat for which we are treating he seems to be specially pleased. So far as is known he is the only surviving Partner, but we believe that Alderman W.H. Mathias of Ynisfaio/Windsor Collieries, who prior to the war had a son in the Office, is understood to have at least £5.000 in the concern which we gathered at the time was more in the shape of a loan than anything else, but knowing the worthy Alderman we feel sure it would be of the debenture class as regards security and an ordinary share as regards dividend. However, in the settlement of Mr. Fred Vivian's something ought to leak out ere long, and in such case we will promptly let you know.
We are only sorry that it is not possible to give you more definite information, and we must ask you to kindly treat this in the way you write to us as private and confidential.
Yours very truly,

G. W. Moore