Messrs. Flint, Eddy & Co. to Mr. Hay.
Sir: Mr. Hopkins has favored us with an extract from your request for information as to our shipments to South Africa on vessels whose voyages were interrupted by the naval force of the British Government. We beg to inclose herewith a memorandum of all shipments made by us on these vessels and to state that a large proportion of these invoices have doubtless been paid for by the consignees. It is our custom to have our agents, the Standard Bank of South Africa, collect drafts on the buyers. The merchandise is shipped on bills of lading drawn to order, and these bills of lading are surrendered or [Page 568] not, at the discretion of the bank, before payment. As we have not learned from the bank what percentage of the bills of lading have been surrendered it is impossible for us to determine whether we still have or have not a lien upon much of this merchandise. We have, however, received a telegram from Messrs. F. Bridler & Co., of Delagoa Bay, to make a claim for their account.
We are quite unable to furnish copies of bills of lading, as, the transactions being documentary, the bills of lading have gone forward with the drafts for collection and are in possession of the collecting bank or of the receiver of the merchandise.
Should we receive a further request to make claims we shall at once communicate with the Department. We do not know whether any claim could be properly made for the detention of merchandise destined to ports other than Delagoa Bay. We understand that the vessels have been diverted from their regular voyage. This is a matter, however, that we shall not enter upon unless some of our correspondents request us so to do.
Very respectfully, etc.,