Jonclosures
4.
222 Acting on the supposition that they were in
fact one and the same person, I adaressed letters of enquiry
concerning the truth of the various statements in Dr. Guston'
affidavit to His Majesty's Minister, Paking, His Majesty's Consul, Shigan, His Majesty's Consul-General, Shanghai, and
to the Military and Novel Authorities in this Colony.
5. I enclose for Your Lordship's information
copies of these lettere und of the replies which I have
received.
6. I can only infer from this correspondence that the majority of the statements which Dr. Gaston has made in his affidavit, regarding the offer of his services in a Lilitary capacity, the treatment he received after capture,
and the loss of his effects, are mere fabrications, which do
not contain even the semblance of truth.
I would point out also that independently of
the enquiries which I have made it would be impossible to
believe Dr. Gaston's statement regering the sum of money
which he alleges to have been contained in his hand grip. Ho person would carry so large a sum of money in Gold in a bag which was not even in the custody of the ship's purser. More-
-ever, at the time, there would have been no object in con- -veying Gold dollars to the United States, and it is a significat fact that no mention was made of the loss in the petition written by August Bach, which forms the first
enclosure to this Despatch.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Chustivem
Officer Administering the Goverment