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Cardiff, 10th March 1915
MM. Worms & C° Paris

Dear Sirs,
We have just had another talk with the Admiralty people, where at both of us were mutually frank over existing difficulties and each others requirements. Our relations with them are specially friendly and possibly to that, we have an advance knowledge of what is going to happen, namely:-... The requirements of the Admiralty and its Allies are so urgent that the entire output of the following Collieries will be taken from tomorrow until the 20th and in all probability until the 27th inst. same will depend on what fresh wants mature and the extent of the output of coal at the collieries during such periods. Ocean, Nixons, Ferndale, Cambrian, Hoods, all the pits of Guest Keen, particularly Dowlais and Cyfarthfa, all those of the United National Collieries, Hills Plymouth, Penrikwyber.
Failing enough coal for the Transports, etc., the following collieries on the other hand, will be allowed to retain only very limited quantities for their own requirements during the periods in question. Albion, Great Western, Cymmer, Windsor, Lewis Merthyr, Powell Duffryn, Ynysfaio, Rhymney, Norths and Tredegar, together with several others.
This information they gave us on a pledge of strict secrecy and in consequence of our representations that ships, such as "Annam" ss and others on our stem had to be sailed somehow or other without fail promptly, as their cargoes were wanted imperatively. Their reply to that was they could not get enough coals for some of their subsidiary clients, such as the French State Railways, who have a large number of ships here waiting, and many more to come, and that they were almost sure during the next day or two, to take even more stringent measures than those just detailed. We could see very clearly that the commercial trader is not going to have the embargo removed, spoken of above, for some time and that if we are to get our boats away and obtain cargoes for others to follow, you had better get representations made by the French Government to the British, with the view of our being placed on a preferential footing. What we have told you is sure to creep out eventually and will cause a general panic as soon as it becomes known. It explains also, why we have been unable to stem boats or obtain offers of coal recently, as collieries possibly have doubtless some idea of what is pending.
We are, Dear Sirs,
Yours very truly,

[G. W. Moore]