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Semi-official correspondence between Korea and Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, 1947-1949

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS JM/J1/137

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

  • Creation: 1947-1949

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

Access to the collection is subject to special conditions and is at the discretion of Matheson and Co. Ltd, part of the Jardine Matheson Group. A statement of the conditions and an application form are available in the Manuscripts Reading Room. Printed copies of the form are available by post (please contact the University Library). An electronic version can also be found at https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/files/jm_application_form_2024_02.pdf.

Records described in the catalogue as being in a bad condition are in a fragile state that precludes them being made available to readers.

Access is generally available to documents dated up to 1969. Access to some earlier records may be restricted under the terms of the Data Protection Act, 1998.

Extent

1 volume(s) (1 volume)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Fair condition, but the binding has broken and has been replaced with treasury tags.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Received from Matheson & Co. Ltd, London, 29 September 2011.

Existence and Location of Copies

J1/208/1 contains copies of most of the semi-official letters from Korea to Hong Kong, as well as some enclosures to these letters not found in this volume.

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom