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James Burness & Sons
138, Leadenhall Street

London, 22nd August 1918
Messrs Worms & Co. - Paris

Dear Sirs,
We are in receipt of your favor of the 20th inst, in reference to what has happened in connection with the steamer which Mr. F. Le Boulanger of Swansea is managing for account of the Ministry of Shipping and we are surprised to hear that his appointment of your Port Said house as his agents for taking over the steamer was not approved by the Ministry.
On the other hand we know that they have constant applications made to them by British firms, who in many cases have lost a large proportion of their fleet through enemy action, to have steamers given to them for management and by firms who wish to represent them at different ports abroad where they have branches and we can only suppose that in the past the Ministry have received complaints when Government business has been placed abroad in the hands of non-British firms so that they feel somewhat bound to employ British firms only.
We are, Dear Sirs,
Yours truly,

James Burness & Sons