AKD
EAN STEAM SHIP COMPANY LIMITED
CHINA MUTUAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY LIMITED.
Dear Mr. Guterres,
380
S.S. "Ningchow"
Port Hongkong,
Date January 4th 1907
I am very sorry about the spiteful conspiracy that has been got up to try and ruin your good character, and if my testimony can help you, in any way I shall most willingly give it. Since I have been in command I have paid off my crews upwards of forty times in your presence, and I can vouch that there were no irregularities; you paid the men in full, if you had not done so I would have heard of it after we sailed, as I have had men with me for years without leaving. "Squeezing" the men is undoubtedly done by the Chinese themselves, and I have often heard you order them out of the shipping office to settle their disputes outside.
I have visited a number of ports in my seafaring career, and I can honestly say, that a more obliging shipping master and a man more up to his work, or could get through with it quicker than you can, I have not met. My shipmaster will feel your loss very much should you be obliged to resign through this conspiracy.
I remain, yours very truly,