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much passed so as to enter into arrangements to legalize emigration under contracts to Foreign Countries, on liberal terms of service under offer of guarantees against violence on the part of those engaged in the shipment of Coolies, and have hitherto refused to make any of the modifications in the convention of March 1866 so much desired by our Colonial Office, it is possible that such notions of falsehoods of these statements as one considerable interest, and ought to be prepared to meet any such counter argument by some authoritative statement of the facts by Your Excellency.
I have accordingly informed His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that I have lost no time in applying to you for the necessary information, with which I shall be glad to be favoured at your earliest convenience.
In this point of view His Majesty's Government will no doubt regard the question of the truth or falsehood of these statements as one of considerable interest.
20,
(Signed) Rutherford Alcock
(True Copy)
Faustina Austin Colonial Secretary