 On 1 June 1914 Röhm wrote to the administration in Buea that based on his calculations of Manga Bell's annual income from cocoa and timber exports, and accounting for his debts to European interests, the Duala merchants would likely not see it in their interests to oppose the expropriation further.At the urging of Solf, the Germans arrested Manga Bell and Ngoso Din and charged them with high treason.Their trial was held on 7 August 1914.