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of my feelings on the subject, if anything should have recurred, which might be construed into a want of courtesy, but I request you will assure His Excellency, that if such an offence was wholly unintentional, and for which I beg His Excellency will accept a most ample apology.
In conclusion I have only to revert to that part of your dispatch, in which the demand for the surrender of the deserter is reiterated, accompanied by the assurance that, in case of a negative answer, the matter would have to be referred to the Home Authorities.
The Commander of the "llbe" can only express his regret if such a measure should be deemed necessary, but at the same time feels it his painful duty respectfully but firmly to decline acquiescing in a demand, which he feels convinced would draw on him the serious displeasure of his own Government.