From Eastern Banker to Financial Diplomat, 1904–14: ‘Playing the Game’ in China

Abstract

A combination of circumstances led to Addis’s appointment as joint manager of the London Office of the HSBC in 1905. This position enlarged Addis’s perspective, enabling him to become more than an Eastern banker. In the next few years he worked closely with the Foreign Office regarding the negotiation with other national groups of railway loans for China, and succeeded in creating an International Banking Consortium for China.

‘Under modern conditions the intrusion of politics in commercial affairs is inevitable.’ — Addis, 1912