Copies of correspondence of Matheson & Co. Ltd and Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd and related papers regarding the firms' tea business in North and East Africa, Ceylon, India, Java and Turkey. The file is divided into six labelled sections:

1. Tea - Tangier [North Africa]: copies of correspondence (including telegrams) between Matheson & Co. Ltd, London, Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong, Jardine Matheson, Shanghai, and Jardine Matheson, Tokyo; correspondence of Matheson & Co. Ltd and Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong, with other correspondents, including Gordon, Woodthorpe & Co. Ltd, London; and related letters and papers, 12 January 1950-30 January 1957.

The material includes reports on visit to North Africa by representatives of Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd to study the local tea business, including the following papers:

a) A report on S.R. Hawke's visit to North Africa, dated 10 November 1951.

b) A report by R. Shoppee on a visit to Casablanca and Algiers of 9-17 September 1952, dated 22 September 1952, with accompanying letters from Shoppee to Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong and Yokohama, 12-21 September 1952, reporting on his trip.

c) Reports on C.B. Campbell's visit to Casablanca and Algiers of 10-23 May 1953, by Campbell, 10 June 1953, and Samuel and Maurice Toledano of Tangier, May 1953.

d) A report by R.O.S. Milde on his visit to Casablanca, dated 20 October 1954.

The subjects covered include the importation of China and Japan tea to North Africa; Chabrières et Cie; Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd's tea joint accounts with Gordon, Woodthorpe & Co. Ltd and Robert Anderson & Co.; and tea visits to North Africa. There is also some material about the importation of China tea to Eastern Europe.

2. East Africa: a small set of correspondence and related papers, 28 September 1949-11 December 1951, including correspondence between Matheson & Co. Ltd and J.J. Paterson, Kenya (reporting on the tea in the country), and Thomas, Cumberlege & Inskipp, London, and press cuttings.

3. Java Tea: a small set of correspondence between Matheson & Co. Ltd and Bosanquet & Skrine Ltd, Colombo, Alfred Holt & Co., Liverpool, and others, 8 August 1949-18 January 1954.

4. Ceylon Tea: correspondence (including telegrams and extracts of letters) between Matheson & Co. Ltd and Bosanquet & Skrine Ltd, Colombo, Bracht & Co. S.A., Antwerp, Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong, J. van Duin, Rotterdam, and others, and related papers, 22 October 1948-5 April 1957.

5. Indian Tea: a note reading 'See Jardine Henderson (M. & Co.'s Calcutta Branch.) file'.

6. Turkey: a small set of correspondence between Matheson & Co. Ltd and Hälssen & Lyon, Hamburg, Huth Produce Sales (Overseas Ltd), London, Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong, and the National Provincial Bank Ltd, London, 31 May 1949-14 February 1968.

The ring-binder is labelled 'Tea - North Africa (Tangier), Turkey, Ceylon, India Java File I'.