A Traitor Exposed.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1922, Page 4

A Traitor Exposed.

THE SPEYER CASE. IWKVLIAN AND N.Z. LA RLE AS- OCIAI lON. LONDON, Jan. 0 Tlie 'Certificates of Naturalisation Committee —Mr Justice Salter, Lord Kamblcden, and Judge Francis Radcli'ife—has reported on the Speyer case. The document makes remarkable revelations. It shows that till October, 191-1, Sir Edgar Speyer remained in partu rship with an enemy, and shared with him the profits of trading with Germany. He relinquished his position v. -tli obvidlis reluctance on compulsion. Also, from February to June, 1915, lie traded with Teixeira, of Amsterdam, in exchange and arbitrage. Tlie committee is satisfied be knew Tk-ixoira was trading with the Germans on their joint account and with himself, he sharing in the profits. Further, as aii expert financier, he knew that such transactions were not merely profitable to tlie Germans but of great benefit to Germany as a State, enabling her tu accumulate in neutral countries a large amount -of the currencies of those countries,, with a view to purchases there. Tlie documents make it plain that Speyer repeatedly and systematically attempted to evade the British censorship, and repeatedly attempted to seduce his British partner to do the same He only dtesistod because of bis English partner’s strong opposition, and through fear of further injury to his business interests. The committee is satisfied that early in 1916 Speyer wrote to Beit von Speyer, head of a business in Berlin, professing German sympathies and expressing a desire to settle in Berlin and carry on business there after the war, and requesting him to ask von Gwinner, director of the Deutsch Bank, whether he would he well received in business circles in Berlin. , .... ...