PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O.
882
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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running the distance to Singapore Town in two hours. Several Europeans reside in my capital, Asiatics of all nations are there, and the spies of Tunku Dia Oodin were always in the place. Your own police station overlooks my town from the opposite Singapore shore, distant from half to three-quarters of a mile. A large collection of men, arms, and boats could not have been effected without the notice of your Government being drawn to it; and if it took place at Johore Bahru my assurances of non-connivance would be worth nothing in the eyes of the British Government. Abundant evidence would also have been forthcoming if only purchased with the money which is so lavishly expended by Tunku Dia Oodin at Singapore and Johore.
8. I may here just add that Syed Zein, who is Tunku Dia Oodin's right hand man, came to me after the negotiations for an arrangement between the two Chiefs had failed, and informed me that he intended making arrangements for having each end of the Strait watched by a sea force strong enough to capture Rajah Mahdie, and any band of his followers who were likely to be with him, and requested me to permit him (Syed Zein) to keep a watch over Rajah Mahdie's movements at Johore. My reply was that any proposal of that kind if made by you would be acceded to by me. By this Syed Zein meant some open-handed proceeding which should be recognized by myself and even known to Rajah Mahdie, for his movements have always been privately watched by spies.
9. But I wish to rest my claim to be intitled to the full confidence of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, (as I am sure 1 possess yours) on account of the unreserved manner in which I have communicated to you my own sentiments on the Salangore dissentions, and because of the action I have taken against my own views, and in the interests of Tunku Dia Oodin, simply because it was the policy
your Government.
of
10. My action in the matter and my unreserved communications with you have been prompted on my part from attachment to the British Government, from personal feelings to yourself, and to the many members of the present and late Government in England, and from the full knowledge that I should not loose a tittle of the confidence or consideration of your Government because my views did not coincide with theirs. Indeed may well lay claim to more, if anything, as my own sentiments were supressed, because opposed to those of your Government, I having acted in conformity with the latter.
11. I may add also that it was wholly unnecessary for me to have clandestinely aided Rajah Mahdie or Rajah Moosah (the Sultan's eldest son) as now also urged against me, as I was quite aware of the declared intention of the British Government in no way to interfere actively with the dissensions and warfare going on in Salangore, either in aid of Tunku Dia Oodin or against his enemies and their allies, as laid down by Lord Kimberley in the despatch to Colonel Anson, and although the British Government might bave felt aggrieved at such a step being taken by me, it would not have been as offended as by my duplicity in rendering aid in a clandestine manner, while all the time expressing the opposite intentions to you here. Although such a step was never contemplated, self- justification compels me to refer to the point as it also serves to demonstrate the utter absurdity of these false statements, and I do so without any boastful spirit of independence, as I am equally aware that such a step could only be sucessfully taken by any chief in the Malayan Peninsula on the sufference of Her Majesty.
12. You have also referred to a report that two of my younger brothers have intermixed themselves in the affairs of Rajah Moosah, and that they verbally gave some kind of guarantee to the owner of the steamer which Rajah Moosah was desirous of chartering to take him back to Salangore, the report being subject to the qualifications that my brothers refused to sign any document for the purpose. In my judgment the tale carries self-refutation on the very face of it, but I have the assurance of my brothers that they have strictly complied with the injunctions I have laid on them neither to encourage nor assist even the Sultan's son against Tunku Dis Oodin, much more Rajah Mahdie, and I quite believe them.
.3. You cannot also forget that my brother Unku Abdulrahman (my adviser and when absent my representative) a short time since when asked to do so, readily accom- panied your Inspector-General of police with Tunku Dia Oodin's friends to arrest individuals in the neighbouring islands alleged to be assisting the enemies of Tunku Dia Oodin.
14. Whatever reports may be in circulation and the public may choose to say, think, and believe, I hold myself irresponsible for, and being perfectly aware how active Tunku Dia Oodin's agents have been in Singapore, it is not a matter for astonishment to find these false ruinours abroad, and I am sure with the information you possess on the spot, it does not cause you any surprise. If the friends of Rajah Moosah or Rajah Mahdie have been led to believe that the Johore Government intended befriending them or becoming
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allies of theirs, they have had no cause given them for it by Johore. It may be that one side is as much given as the other to the circulation of false news to serve objects and purposes of their own.
15. Meanwhile, I cannot help again remarking that I have felt very much aggrieved I shall be glad if to find that Lord Kimberley has believed the reports raised against me.
you
will communicate to him the assurance that on your own part, you are satisfied that the proceedings of myself and those under my authority have been in unison with the declaration of my intentions as made to you at the outset.
I have, &c.
(Signed in Arabic)
To his Excellency Sir Harry St. George Ord, C.B., Governor of the Straits Settlements.
Sir,
No. 7.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
ABU BAKAR.
Maharajah of Johore.
Admiralty, November 5, 1872. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the naval Commander-in-chief in China has reported, in a letter of the 2nd September last, that "things were generally quiet at the places within the Straits division, with the exception of Salangore, where it is reported Rajah Mahdie, who was implicated in the attack on the "Rinaldo" last year, has attacked the Viceroy, having escaped from Johore with a large party of men.”
Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 8.
Colonial Office to War Office.
ROBERT HALL.
Downing Street, December 12, 1872. I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the favourable consideration of the Secretary of State for War, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements requesting the supply of one hundred Enfield rifles with ammunition for the Maharajah of Johore.
I am to state that Lord Kimberley has, since the receipt of that despatch, been in further communication with the Governor, and his Lordship would be glad if Mr. Cardwell can comply with Sir H. Ord's request, and that the necessary instructions for the settle- ment of the matter will be issued to the Crown Agents for the Colonies.
It is desirable that these riftes and ammunition should be sent out with the least possible delay.
I am,
No. 240.)
Sir,
(Signed)
No. 9.
&c.
H. T. HOLLAND.
The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir H. St. George Ord.
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Downing Street, December 12, 1872. I HAVE received your despatch No. 174 of the 24th October,† in reply to my despatch No. 174 of the 2nd September, explaining the circumstances in which Rajah Madhie was allowed to find an asylum in the territory of Johore, and inclosing copy of a letter to you from the Maharajah, in which he says that he has been much pained and aggrieved to find that I have believed certain reports raised against him in the press.
you
I am not surprised at the effect produced on the mind of the Maharajah by the communication which you made to him, and I must express my regret that informed him of the contents of my despatch. It seems to me that it is quite unnecessary that you should do so, and it certainly was very far from my intention.
If it was urgent to give an answer to the Maharajah respecting the arms it would
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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have been easy to inform me by telegraph that you were able to give a perfectly satisfactory explanation of the matter concerning which I had made inquiry so far as the Maharajah was concerned, and that the arms might be at once supplied. Your knowledge of the high esteem in which the Maharajah has long been held by Her Majesty's Government, and of the importance of maintaining the most friendly relations with him should have prevented you from making a communication to him which could not but wound his feelings, and the more so when you knew that there was no ground of complaint against him.
The residence of a conspicuous piratical Chief in Johore was a matter which required explanation, and although, of course, no blame whatever can rest upon the Maharajah on that account, as you yourself requested him to tell Rajah Mahdie that he might come to Johore, I cannot say that I am satisfied that this course was desirable on your part.
The papers from which you quote leave little doubt on my mind that Rajah Mahdie was implicated in the attack on the "Pluto." His connection with piracy is, at all events, notorious, and I question the expediency of notifying to the Maharajah of Johore that you had no objection to his affording an asylum to such a person, and of endeavouring to negotiate terms with him.
I have to instruct you to address a letter to the Maharajah to the following effect: That I have learnt with much concern that from a communication made by you to him in consequence of a despatch from me inquiring as to the circumstances in which Rajah Mahdie had obtained an asylum in Johore, he was under the impression that I believed that he had been encouraging or assisting Rajah Mahdie and others against Tunku Dia Oodin in the Salangore troubles; that whilst I should never be ready to lend credence to reports injurious to a faithful ally of the Queen, whose intelligent administration of his territory and constant friendliness to the British Government Her Majesty highly appre- ciates, I feel sure His Highness will understand that it was no more than my duty to satisfy myself by inquiry from you as to the reason for the presence of such a person as Rajah Mahdie in Johore; that I in no way assumed, in making this inquiry, that he had rendered assistance to Rajah Mahdie, and that as Rajah Mahdie went to Johore with your full consent and sanction, all that was necessary was that you should state this in answer to my despatch. You will further say that I desire to assure the Maharajah that the esteem in which he has been held by Her Majesty and her Ministers for many years is in no degree diminished, and to convey to him my sincere regret that anything should have occurred to cause him pain and annoyance.
I have made application to the War Office for the rifles and ammunition asked for by the Maharajah.
No. 10.
I have, &c. (Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received December 9.)
(No. 189.) My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, November 6, 1872.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship copies of correspondence which has passed recently with the Chamber of Commerce, Singapore, respecting the injury inflicted on our trade with Salangore, owing to the continuance of fighting between rival parties who are contending for the mastery in that country.
2. Your Lordship will perceive that I have felt myself bound to give to these com- plaints the usual answer, that if persons knowing the risks they run, owing to the disturbed state of these countries, choose to hazard their lives and properties for the sake of the large profits which accompany successful trading, they must not expect the British Government to be answerable if their speculation proves unsuccessful.
3. Although I shall be glad to learn that your Lordship approves of the reply I have given, my object in forwarding the correspondence has been less to elicit such an expres- sion of your opinion than to avail myself of the opportunity which it affords me of giving your Lordship some account of what had passed in the native States since my return to the Colony.
4. In the month of April, finding that matters were very unsettled in the Salangore country, I proposed to Mr. C. J. Irving, the Auditor-General, who has always warmly supported the cause of Tunku Koodin, that he should visit the Klang and Salangore Rivers, where Tunku Koodin ruled, and should ascertain exactly what was the condition of affairs in thoșe countries, and whether it was likely any arrangement could be come to
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between the Tunku and those Rajahs, especially Mahdie, Syed Mashoor, and Mahmood, who were still holding out against his and the Sultan's authority.
5. Mr. Irving brought me back word, that Koodin had practically possession of both the Salangore and Klang Rivers, as he occnpied the only forts there were on the former river, which were situated at its mouth, as well as all the fortified posts, three in number, on the latter river; that the rebel Rajahs however occupied the head waters of these rivers, and possessed communications with the Bernam River on the north, and the Langkat River on the south, on which latter the Sultan resides, and were thus enabled to send down to the coast, though not altogether without difficulty, the tin raised in the interior, and with it to obtain supplies of arms and food. Constant warfare prevailed between the two parties, and there were repeated attacks and captures of posts, in which neither party seemed to gain any great advantage. Rajah Mahdie, whose subsequent pro- ceedings are detailed in my despatch No. 174, of 24th October, 1872,* was then out of the country, trying to organize a force, with which to return to the attack.
6. Tunku Koodin expressed himself ready to make any arrangement by which peace could be restored to the country. He had put the Sultan's sons in charge of the Salangore River; but partly through weakness, and partly through treachery, they had played into the hands of his enemies, and he had been compelled to displace them. He endeavoured to interfere as little as possible with the trade of the country; but so long as the rebel Rajabs could send out of it the tin, and get back in return supplies, so long would the war continue; and with the view of putting a stop to this, he had been compelled to enforce a strict blockade of the two rivers, which was naturally giving great offence to those merchants who had made advances on behalf of this tin.
7. Having received complaints of serious disturbances at Laroot, a district of the Perak country, by which the trade with Penang was seriously impeded; and also that there was a strong probability of a civil war in Perak, owing to a dispute as to the succession to the Throne of the late Sultan, I requested Mr. Irving, when he had finished his inquiries at Salangore, to continue his journey to Perak, and ascertain the state of affairs there; and also whether it would be possible to induce the rival Chiefs to come to some terms by which peace might be restored to the country.
8. Mr. Irving found the state of affairs to be pretty nearly as it has been represented to me in letters I had received from time to time from the Chiefs. On the death of the Sultan of Perak, his son, the Rajah Muda, who should, in the natural course of events, have succeeded his father, having given offence to a number of the Chiefs by absenting himself from the funeral ceremonies, another high official, the Rajah Bandahara had, with their consent, assumed the Sultanship. Each party appealed to the Government for countenance and support, and was informed that we could not interfere in any way in the internal affairs of their country, but that so soon as the Chiefs and great men had determined who, according to their native customs, was the proper successor to the Sultan, we should be happy to recognize bim.
9. Mr. Irving saw the Rajah Muda, but not the Bandabara, who made excuses to avoid meeting him; he was of opinion that the Rajah Muda had probably the stronger legal claims, but from being an opium smoker and a debauchee, he had no great following, nor much influence with the people; and that the Bandahara, who appeared to be a man of more character, and who was supported by the Rajah of Laroot and his party, would probably be successful if it came to an open struggle. In his communications with the three Rajabs and their Chiefs, he urged on them strongly the necessity of terminating their differences quietly, and thus restoring peace to the country. He suggested to them from me that they should hold, according to custom, a meeting of all the great Chiefs to determine the question of the succession, and told them that, if they could do this, I would with pleasure send an officer of rank to be present at their deliberation and to communicate to me their selection, which they might rest assured would be gladly and readily accepted by the British Government.
10. Mr. Irving returned to Singapore on the 29th of April, and on the 3rd of May he went back again with letters from me to the Perak authorities, impressing on them the expediency of settling their differences in the way that had been suggested. He found the Rajah Muda willing to accede to the proposal, but not so the Bandahara and his adviser the Rajah of Laroot. The replies I subsequently received from these Chiefs left me no hope of seeing a peaceful solution of the question; they have not yet actually gone to war, but the country is thoroughly unsettled, and matters are in the most unsatisfactory state.
11. Such was the condition of affairs at Perak in May last. At Laroot, which is the most important mining district, giving occupation to thousands of Chinese, serious faction tights broke out amongst these people at the beginning of the year, which resulted in the
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