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charges were (we have reason to believe) vague in character, with no specific date attached.
That of the remaining two charges, one (we have reason to believe) related to an alleged offence, which, on the face of the charge made in respect thereof, was more than three years old.
(e) That we have reason to believe that the evidence adduced in support of the charge above referred to (so far as concerned the facts constituting the proof tendered in regard to the matters alleged therein) consisted entirely of the statements of Chinese witnesses unsupported by the corroboration of any European witness.
(f) That from our own actual knowledge of the manner in which the said Antonio Paulo Guterres habitually conducted himself when making payment of their wages to paid off crews, we are enabled to respectfully state, as we do, that the facts alleged in support of the charges made against the said Antonio Paulo Guterres are exceedingly improbable.
(g) That we have reason to believe that there were four European witnesses who gave evidence at the said Inquiry in support of the general good character borne by the said Antonio Paulo Guterres, and that of such four witnesses, one (Captain Milroy of the Sailors' Home) had been present on very numerous occasions when the said Antonio Paulo Guterres made payments.
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