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James Burness & Sons
London and 3, Bute Crescent - Cardiff
138, Leadenhall Street

London, 5th February 1917
Messrs Worms & Co - Paris

Dear Sirs,
Marseilles & Time Chartering. We beg to acknowledge receipt of your favors of the 1st & 2nd inst. the contents of which we duly note.
We are very pleased to hear that an arrangement has been arrived at to raise considerably the Mediterranean homeward rates as we feel that the rate allowed by the Ministry of Munitions for bringing home ore is quite inadequate in the state of matters which exists today and if the homeward rate is increased we hope it may have the effect of causing tonnage to become available at the increased limitation rates outwards. We have not heard anything official here but Mr. Holmden has several times mentioned the figure of 180s/- out & home as being the only possible one on which time chartered boats could be worked for the round trip.
We were much disappointed to have to tell you this afternoon that the letter which we addressed to Mr. Holmden on Saturday informing him you would be glad to have the offer of a time chartered Greek steamer did not reach that gentleman. It was duly delivered by hand to the messenger outside Mr. Hipwood's room at the Board of Trade but we have again sent up to see what has become of it. As the letter did not reach Mr. Holmden he did not bring up the matter at the Committee Meeting which we much regret.
We have duly received your two telegrams saying you would accept
a Greek steamer on time charter but it must of course he understood that you are at liberty to use the boat for coal cargoes to the Bay ports and not to the Mediterranean; this of course in view of the arrangement which you can make with your Government for the duration of the war.
Mr. Newton Dunn has now taken up his duties at the Inter-Allied Chartering Committee and Mr. Holmden referred us to him. We explained to Mr. Dunn shortly your position and as arranged by telephone we are now taking over to him copies of the letters which we have addressed to the various Authorities on your behalf regarding your position at Marseilles. Mr. Dunn has kindly promised to go into the whole matter.
We again asked Mr. Holmden whether Portuguese steamers came under the recent increase in the limitation rates when he confessed he did not know; we must try however to find this out elsewhere.
We are quite unable to trace what has become of our letter to Mr. Holmden which was delivered at the Board of Trade on Saturday.
We are, dear Sirs,

James Burness & Sons