A MYSTERY MAN.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXV, Issue 3362, 28 September 1935, Page 5

A MYSTERY MAN.

ABYSSINIAN OIL DEAL. MANY IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS. (By Air Mail). LONDON, Sept.-9. Mr F. W; Rickett, the "mystery man" behind the Abyssinian oil deal, has been called the " Lawrence of Oil." He is a director, of the "..Devonport Trust, Ltd., n dealing (mbs 11 £Mith business, in the. Bast. : He is also a member of the •''Travellers' Club.", • A friend said: " He spends most of his time travelling. He speaks German,' French, and Italian fluently. Last year lie paid many visits to Rome, where he met Signor Mussolini. '•'Mr Rickett is'a great friend of Count Ciano, Italian Minister of Propaganda and son-in-law,i t'o. Mussolini. "It was during,these visits that he was holding negotiations vvith Italian political circles. ■• ' Piercing Eyes. " There is hardly any financial authority of the Great Powers who does not know Mr Rickett. , His pleasant face, with -.its..-piercing/ eyes, is often seen in Geneva among the world's politicians. "' During I ..the -, l&sfe.-winter he had many important negotiations with the Polish Government; : Mr Adam Koc, the financial Minister of\ Poland; who came to London, had' many meetings witli Mr Rickett. "After the negotiations with Poland, Mr Rickett:went-tp Rome. From Rome to' Cairo and' : then, on to •Bagdad. After Iraq he 'doubled back to Addis Ababa. os* *VO -■■'' '••'• " There was a time when;his main business, interests,-were ,in ; Iraq., and he eveh "Used s '''to'.stay permanently' in ..Bagdad/' it- was^sthis 5 : he ; was-the.;-gr ; eat friend of v an,d to! the latV King'Feisal. ;"I saw him. many..tJmes in.-Londbn. He was a perfect host arid a - charming friend." Major Gwilyrh.'Lloyd George, son of Mr. Lloyd George, who is. staying at his house at Tenby, which is. only a. few miles from. ; Mr Rickett's-castle at Amroth, told the Sunday Dispatch iast night:— '; ""' \ '„;''".;." •" I have known-Mr Rickett for about 1G years. He has always proved a most charming companion, but I can tell you very little about his business life. " Even to the people who know him well he has never talked about his business activities. He has always remained a rather mysterious figure. "It came as a bombshell to me when I read to-day about this vast deal that lie is reported to have put tiuough." -.■-.-