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Family matters, especially grandchildren, who frequently visit Woodside; also work on the house and garden and Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and Consortium business in London; also attends P&O and London University meetings and frequent lunch and dinner engagements. Entries referring to politics are infrequent but after the outbreak of war Addis mentions its effect on business and on the life of his family.
JANUARY Continuing Chinese business including announcement of default on loans; attends Japan Society dinner, 'If only Japanese deeds corresponded with their words', 18; cruise to Brazil.
FEBRUARY Working on reply to American request for a reduction in their share of Consortium charges.
MARCH Hears of Government loan to China; talks at Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.). on this and the Chinese proposal to reduce interest on customs loans, 'Succeeded in blocking their precipitate acceptance of the Chinese proposals', 27; to tea with the Townsends, 'what memories', 13; to Paris.
APRIL P&O and British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.) meetings, rumours of war in City, 'I am not convinced', 17; funeral of Townsend, 19; to North Africa with wife, 'ship half filled with Australians and Jewish refugees ', 28, for Bank of Morocco meeting, visiting and sightseeing.
MAY III with chill.
JUNE 'The more I see of doctors (and I have seen a good deal of them) the less regard I have for them', 1; visits from Leveson and Pratt for Burma-Chinese railway talks; to London to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and for P&O and British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.), meetings; difficulties with Chinese loans, 'I am doing my best but am not hopeful.' 19.
JULY To London for Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), London University Court, St Felix Council, P&O and British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.), meetings; much talk on China, the position of the Consortium and the American threat of withdrawal.
AUGUST Much China business and correspondence with Grayburn and talks on the American attitude to the Consortium; Chinese notice of default on all their loans, 'A sad blow to the Addis family', 1; talks on depositing P&O yen in Japan and on Burma railways. At the end of the month Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) business is at a standstill, the foreign staff in Hamburg retired and gas masks collected.
SEPTEMBER 'Who would have thought we should live to see another war!' 1; arrival of evacuee children and subsequent problems, air raid practices, crowded trains and local farm help by the Land Army; son-in-law Bernard leaving the London Committee of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) for the Bank of England; continued China business.
OCTOBER 'His peace proposals seem reasonable, but then nobody trusts Hitler', 6; son Dick called up; continued Consortium business, 'What uncertainty, what vacillation', 11; Paris visit abandoned because of the war; travel difficulties increasing.
NOVEMBER P&O meetings and discussions on fall in value of investments; continued Consortium work and correspondence with Grayburn; St Felix Council meeting.
DECEMBER Continuing P&O, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and Consortium business, including a secret arrangement with Norman, 'Norman has come to our rescue & will provide the disputed £550. The American Group will remain in the Consortium for another year', 'Laus Deo.' 28.
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