Archives

London, 19th January, 1915
MM. Worms & Co - Paris

Dear Sirs,
With reference to the decision which was come to yesterday with regard to the increase in the price for Port Said former contract customers and to the telegram which your Senior instructed us to despatch to Port Said upon the subject, we have been rather puzzled to know what we are to say to MM. Mann, George & C° in connection with your decision to include the Glen Line under the preferential treatment which you have decided to extend to your other principal clients, for one or two reasons. Firstly - seeing that MM. Mann, George & C° are not parties to the H/U we are wondering how it will affect them in their relations with MM. Lambert Brothers to whom they are in the habit of taking any Port Said contracts which they are able to influence other than the Glen Line, and, Secondly - it is to be borne in mind that you only through their influence enjoy a portion (although the larger share) of the coaling of the Glen Line fleet, the balance being in the hands of the English Goal C° through MM. Elder, Dempster & C° who now hold a controlling interest in the Line and who use what influence they have in favor of the English Coal C° in which they are shareholders; of course whatever price you were to extend to the Glen Line would soon come to the knowledge of the English Coal C° & Lord Inchcape, and we are wondering whether this might even react upon the relations between MM. Lambert Brothers and the P. & O. through Lord Inchcape who is now Chairman of both concerns. We feel it to be our duty to submit all these ideas for your consideration in order that you may be able to weigh them over and instruct us what we are to do in the matter. Would you like us to see M. Newton Dunn on the subject?
We are, Dear Sirs,
Yours truly,

James Burness & Sons