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A continued preoccupation with Chinese and Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) affairs as well as with the personal affairs of the Addis family and the house and garden at Woodside Addis also continues to be a member of the Court of London University and to attend P&O, St Felix Council and Bank of Morocco meetings as well as communicate with former colleagues, but references to politics are infrequent.
JANUARY Working on articles for The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator; attends talks in London on the Sino-Japanese conflict and its effect on shares; new headmistress chosen for St Felix School; with wife on cruise to the Sudan and Egypt.
FEBRUARY In Egypt.
MARCH In Egypt and the Holy Land; hears news of Anthony Eden's resignation, 'My sympathies are with Neville Chamberlain. By all means enter into conversations with Mussolini & Hitler too. Even if they fail as they well may, they may help to clear the air.' 4
APRIL 'General rejoicing at news of a Chinese victory', 7; talks with David Drummond on Burma-Yuman railway project; attends P&O meetings and salary talks, also British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.), meetings and talks on a reduced dividend.
MAY Much China business over the collection of customs; Chinese default on Shanghai-Nanking railway; talks on Japanese involvement with Kano, the Japanese ambassador, the Foreign Office and Treasury; discussions on fundraising for a Chinese students' hostel in Gower Street, London; meeting with Cantlie 'who professes to be an adviser to Chiang Kai-shek'. 30.
JUNE Talks with Grayburn, recently arrived in London; more talks on Burma railways with Drummond; P&O meetings; talks on the position of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in Hamburg and with Bank of England representative in China on Chinese loan.
JULY Continuing talks on Chinese loan, including talks with Barnes; P&O meeting over the rights of shareholders; funeral of old friend Ferdinand Schiller, 21.
AUGUST To Scotland for family visits.
SEPTEMBER Continuing Burma railway negotiations; son John accepted for consular service, 'I think that is the career best suited to him', 16; visits to Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) office, 'City can talk of little else than the Czechoslovakia crisis', 21; refuses to speak at English Speaking Union on the Far East situation; appeals to K'ung to maintain service of 1908 loan; notes improvement in consols on Chamberlain's return from Munich.
OCTOBER Son John to Prague, 'beyond my fondest hopes for him', 1; continued talks on China situation; to Paris for Bank of Morocco meeting and talks on Burma railways.
NOVEMBER To Cornwall with wife; P&O meetings with discussions on dividend and shareholders' rights; also Burma railway talks.
DECEMBER To Paris; hears of Treasury [sic] wishes to dissolve Consortium, 'What a bore.' 21.
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