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to report that on the 4th instant
to
I granted that interview to Messrs Pestonji Janjeeshaw
B. Z. Cama Her, Purjoajer
呀
Khodadad
of M. B. Cama & Co.,
and J. F. Buscy of R. I. Camajee & Co., who were introduced by Mr. J. I. Mackenzie of
the Firm of Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co., the recently elected chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber
3.
of Commerce.
Their complaint
was Saltpetre, of which
the subject of they and other Indian Firms were large holders to the extent,
if I recollect rightly, of £300,000, and which had been principally shipped from Calcutta before the terms
of the Proclamation were made known there (if indeed they have been made known there at the present time)
4.
I pointed out to them that had the Proclamation been
less stringent in terms and time given for shipments to arrive, the object of Her Majesty's Government might not only possibly but must inevitably have been defeated, and
occasion would have been taken
to pour into the Rebel camp supplies of Military Stores sufficient to have enriched the contraband importer, and to have rendered the Russians independent of such assistance