A more sophisticated contemporary example is drawn from the world of politics. While Perri was helping Americans to illicitly quench their thirsts, a prominent businessman, Peter Larkin, was establishing a secret nest-egg for Mackenzie King, Canada's longest-serving prime minister. Thanks to generous donations from major business figures of the day, the fund quickly reached an initial balance of $225,000. The propriety of such a fund has long been debated among historians. Some critics suspect it was, at the very least, questionable. As proof, they point to what they reckon might have been Larkin's reward for his efforts his appointment to London as Canada's High Commissioner. This issue may not be resolved until the next century when the National Archives unseals King's private financial papers. Illegal or not, King had an important reason for wanting to keep the fund secret avoiding public embarrassment. As Blair Neatby, King's biographer, indicated, public disclosure that King was receiving substantial donations from prominent business persons could have severely damaged King's reputation. Not surprisingly, Larkin who made his fortune at the helm of the Salada Tea empire went to great lengths to safeguard the fund's confidentiality. The money, for instance, was held not in Canada, but was funneled "offshore" into an account at the Old Colony Trust Company in Boston. Larkin also preferred to receive donations in anonymous cash. When one businessman in 1927 planned to use a cheque to make a contribution, Larkin hurriedly sent a letter to dissuade him. Larkin told the corporate donor: "...It might be as well not to see my name on the cheque as inferences are drawn from this sort of thing. Now would you mind cashing the cheque and placing the fruits of it with [an official] of the Royal Bank and ask him to forward it to me..."