TRADING WITH ENEMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17984, 9 January 1922, Page 5

TRADING WITH ENEMY.

THE CASE OF EDGAR SPEYER. EVIDENCES OF GUILT. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Jaru_& At a meeting of the Certificates of Naturalisation Committee, Mr. Justice Salter, Lord Hambledon, and Judge Francis Eadcliff reported on the Speyer case. The document makes remarkable revelations. It shows that until October, 1914, Edgar Speyer remained in partnership with an enemy. 6hai-ed with him the profits of trading with Germany, and relinquished his position with obvious reluctance on compulsion; also, that from February to Juno, 1815, he traded with Teixeira, of Amsterdam, in exchange arbitrage. The committed was satisfied he know Teixeira was trading with the Germans in joint account with himself, he sharing the profit. Further, as an expert financier, he knew such a transaction was not merely profitable to the Germans, but of great benefit to Germany as a State, enabling her to accumulate in neutral countries a large amount of the currencies of those countries, with a view to purchases there. Documents put in evidence make rt plain that Speyer repeatedly and systematically attempted to evade the British censorship, repeatedly attempted to induce his British partners to do the same, and only desisted because of his English partners' strong opposition, and through fear of a further injury to his business interests. The committee is satisfied that early in 1916 Speyer wrote to Beit and von Speyer, head of a business in Berlin, pr»' fessing German sympathies, expressing a desire to settle in Berlin and carry on business there after the war, requesting Beit to ask von Gwinner, director of the Deutsche Bank, whether he would be well received in business circles in Berlin.

Tlio London Gazette of December 12 contained the following announcement: "Edgar Speyer has shown himself by act and speech disaffected and disloyal to His Majesty. During the war he unlawfully communicated with subjects of an enemy State. Therefore his certificate of naturalisation has been revoked. Edgar Speyer, his wife, and two daughters shall cease to be British subjects. Edgar Speyer is also struck off the Council. This finding involves no reflection on any partner of Speyer Brothers, London, except Edgar." i