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was. He asked to see the original letter and he seemed to doubt me when I said I had not got it although a moment after- -wards he said that he had been informed by a witness that Wan Tsung-iu had torn it up and thrown it into the waste paper basket. He appeared to be making a somewhat feeble attempt to discredit the authenticity of the copy.
I asked Mr. Imai to let me have a note of his explanation, but he preferred to let his verbal statement
suffice.
Throughout the whole of both interviews I was careful to adopt an amicable attitude to Mr. Imai with whom my relations for many years have been quite cordial
I have sent a copy of this despatch to His
Majesty's Minister at Peking and to His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
Ama
Governor,&c..