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Worms & Co.

Branches in Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria, Port Tewfik (Suez)

Port Said (Eypt), 14th november 1918
MM. Worms & Cie - Paris

Dear Sirs,
With the war practically over, we feel that one of the first things we should like to do is to get once more into personal touch with you and Mr. Roussel not wanting to leave for France before next summer, the subscriber proposes that he should be the first to go and that almost immediately.
Perhaps you would be kind enough to telegraph us on receipt of this letter if you approve of the idea, when Mr. Howe would be free to choose his opportunity for getting away. While the immense amount of work we have to do on behalf of the Asiatic Co. for the fighting forces continues, it would be quite impossible for him to leave, but it is, we think, to be anticipated that in this comer of the world at all events, the Forces will be quickly removed, if only for the purpose of pushing them up to the European storm centre, though even that seems now to be smashed beyond the possibility of repair. All our Europeans will want to go home for a change after all these years of hard and trying work and circumstances, that goes almost without saying, and we believe we ought to make a big effort to enable everyone or nearly everyone to get some home leave in the coming year.
Thus the subscriber going home in the winter will, of course, be a help towards this end, but he does not wish to conceal that he has also a selfish motive, which is that his wife's health is precarious and requires home treatment after a spell of getting on for seven consecutive years spent in Egypt.
where will also be the Asiatic Co. whom it will be politic, we think, to see as soon as possible, the position with them being that practically everything is in Mr. Waley Cohen's hands, and he is too busy a man to read reports. We consider the system is quite wrong, of course, as in such a huge business as theirs, one man rule, although essential no doubt, should be fortified by something in the nature of a general staff each officer with large discretion in details, but reporting all important happenings daily to the general Manager.
AS it is quite minute details are attended to personally by Mr. Cohen. Anyhow you will understand, things being as they are, how important it is for someone knowing the position In Egypt to give him at an interview or interviews the truth regarding it. As it is the most appalling errors of judgment have been made vis a vis the Egyptian Government, against our advice, simply, we believe, because it has never been properly known or understood.
We are, dear sirs,
Yours faithfully,

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