Semi-official correspondence between Jardine Matheson, Korea, and Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, with enclosed papers:

JAPAN

1. Copies of semi-official letters nos 1-14 from M.L. Railton, Tokyo, to W.K. Corneck, Seoul, 26 August-16 December 1949.

2. Original semi-official letters from W.K. Corneck, Seoul, to Tokyo: an unnumbered letter to M.L. Railton, 9 August 1949; nos MLR 1-5 to Railton, 7 September-5 November 1949; and nos K1-8 to F.A. Pollock, Tokyo, 9-30 December 1949.

The subjects covered include a frigidaire; jeep and station wagon; proposed visit of F.A. Pollock; staff; G.E. McLaughlin (E.C.A. (Economic Cooperation Administration) Mission to Korea); sub-agencies; and visit of A.R. White.

SHANGHAI

1. Unnumbered original semi-official letters from A. Montgomery, Seoul, to J.H. Keswick, Shanghai, 18 January 1949, and W.K. Corneck, Seoul, to J.H. Keswick, Shanghai, 19 December 1949.

2. Copies of semi-official letters nos 1-5 from J.H. Keswick, Shanghai, to W.K. Corneck and A. Montgomery, Seoul, 8 January-2 December 1949. There is also an unnumbered letter from F.A. Pollock, Shanghai, to A. Montgomery, Korea, 8 September 1948.

The subjects covered include the arrival of W.K. Corneck as agent and trade with Korea.

HONG KONG

1. Original semi-official letters nos 1-3, 10-26 December 1947, 1-49, 12 January-29 December 1948, and 50-87, 18 January-20 December 1949, from W.K. Corneck and A. Montgomery, Seoul, to R. Gordon and D.F. Landale, Hong Kong, with many enclosed press cuttings. Attached to letter no. 22 of 5 July 1948 is a photograph of Montgomery's house. Letter no. 58 of 28 February 1949 encloses a general report on the Korea Agency from its foundation in November 1947 until the date of Montgomery's departure as agent in February 1949.

2. Copies of semi-official letters nos 1-42 from R. Gordon and D.F. Landale, Hong Kong, to W.K. Corneck and A. Montgomery, Seoul, 4 January-10 December 1949. No. 4 of 13 January 1949 has been labelled incorrectly as a private and confidential letter.

3. Copies of semi-official letters nos 1-21 and 23-30 from R. Gordon and D.F. Landale, Hong Kong, to A. Montgomery, Seoul, 16 January-29 December 1948. No. 16 of 5 July 1948 was numbered incorrectly as no. 9, but has been corrected in pen. No. 22 was cancelled. No. 24 of 23 October 1948 has been labelled incorrectly as a private and confidential letter.

The subjects covered include the arrival of W.K. Corneck as agent; Butterfield & Swire; cement; customs procedure; S.S. 'Choysang'; dyes; E.C.A. (Economic Cooperation Administration) cotton yarn - Pusan; E.C.A. Mission in Korea; E.C.A. Procurement Scheme; frigidaire; 'Helgy'; household items for agency; house rent; Inchon sub agency; Japan/Korea trade; Jardine Engineering Corporation Ltd; Korean politics; living conditions; office accommodation; Pusan; remittances of U.S. dollars to Korea; salt ships; shipping; Captain Sikhn; staff; sub agency representation; Swire, Maclaine Ltd; Taikoo; wines and spirits; and the yen.

At the start of the volume is a booklet by the Korea Agency on conditions in South Korea as they relate to commerce, dated Seoul, 21 February 1948. It includes four photographs: Capitol Building, Seoul - Headquarters of the United States Army Military Government in Korea; Office of Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd, Korea Agency, Seoul; Pusan Harbour; and Part of the old Duk Soo Palace Grounds.