PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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preserved, while, with the exception of Johore, those whose relations with Great Britain are confirmed by long-standing Treaties, and who have hitherto been considered as subject to her influence and counsel, are conspicuous for the absence of that peace, progress, and comparative prosperity, which characterizes all countries and places recognizing British rules, or inspired by British ideas.
As an example of what the moral influences of Great Britain can effect in a native State, we would point to the neighbouring territory of Johore, whose prosperous and peaceful condition and steady progress is due as well to the liberality and foresight of its present Ruler as to the English influences, which have of late years (especially during your Excellency's residence among us), been brought to bear upon the Maharajah's rule.
This territory, we are informed from the highest authority, contains some 70,000 Chinese, amongst whom are 20 or 30 Chinese traders, who are possessed of property and capital valued at from 20,000 to 30,000 dollars.
The trade of Sumatra, which forms so large a part of that of Penang, is being directed into Dutch channels, the best of the produce being sent to Java. Although by a recent Treaty we enjoy equal commercial privileges with the Dutch, we no longer have
such a command of the trade.
The trade with Bali, which was at one time so brisk, has now almost ceased.
The trade with Sulu and the islands in that neighbourhood is now stopped, owing to the action of the Spanish Government, which refuses to allow goods and merchandize to pass, except through their own ports.
Our trade with Labuan, the only British Possession on the coast of Borneo, is very small, whilst that with Sarawak is too limited to be of great importance.
The trade of the rest of Borneo is pretty much in the hands of the Dutch, and so is that of Celebes, and islands in that portion of the Archipelago.
The trade with China is no longer so remunerative as heretofore, and the large increase in European firms connected with it has considerably limited the field as far as your Petitioners are concerned.
The trade with Bangkok still remains open, but it does not present very great induce- ments to a large number of traders.
Your Excellency will thus see that the above circumstances have so restricted the field for trade around the British Settlements in these waters, that it becomes necessary for us to seek elsewhere openings for commerce, and our eyes anxiously turn to the Malayan Peninsula, which affords the finest field for the enterprise of British subjects, and from whence we may hope to reinvigorate that mercantile prosperity which our industry has hitherto secured for us.
In former days, it was the duty of the Governors and Resident Councillors of the Settlements to maintain intimate relations with the States of the Peninsula. If complaints were made of misconduct on the parts of the native Chiefs, or any of their head men, or of outrages committed by them on the legitimate trader, an investigation was ordered and redress afforded. By a constant attention to the state of affairs in these territories, and by the rendering of advice and assistance in their regulation, the officials of Government obtained such an influence over the native Rulers, as to be enabled, without the use of force, to ensure the security of the trader and the order of the country.
But this paternal intervention in native affairs no longer exists. If a British subject or a substantial trader, dwelling in British territory and subject to British law and rule, enters into commercial relations with the Chiefs of States in the Peninsula, however petty, when ill-treated or robbed by them he has no redress.
If he applies to the Government (under whose law he lives, and to the support of which he contributes) for the redress of his grievance, he is told that he had no business there at all, and that, as he has gone in for great profits, he must accept great risks. If he applies to the Ruler of the territory in which he has suffered loss, he soon finds that this Ruler (aware that Great Britain will not support or protect her legitimate trader) treats his complaints with supreme indifference. In other cases, again, the accepted Ruler of nearly every Malay State no longer possesses his former influence, because the turbulent or dissatisfied Chiefs below him know that he can no longer depend upon the beneficial advice and counsel of that British Government to whom he has hitherto looked for moral support at least. Your Petitioners would humbly beg your Excellency to ponder
over this.
The above policy may be in accordance with the view which European Governments take of their responsibilities to each other, but its application to the half-civilized States of the Malay Peninsula (whose inhabitants are as ignorant as children), is to assume an amount of knowledge of the world and appreciation of the elements of law and justice
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which will not exist amongst those Governments until your Petitioners and their descen- dants of several generations have passed away.
Your Excellency is well aware that the large mining operations which it had been proposed to commence in some of the adjoining States, and which would have largely benefited the country in which they were carried on as well as all concerned, have been abandoned solely on account of the want of protection, which the promoters sought to find from this Government.
In conclusion, we would add that we are aware of the increasing efforts your Excel- lency has made to cultivate the friendship of the native Rajahs of the Peninsula, and to retain that influence over them which the British Government has always held, and we fully recognize the great anxiety your Excellency has ever displayed to assist the legitimate trader, as well as to direct the native Ruler by your advice and counsel.
We are, however, sensible that more success would have attended your Excellency's efforts had it been your Excellency's duty to carry out a different policy, and we are persuaded that, if your Excellency had the liberty to protect your fellow-subjects, and the legitimate trader residing under your Excellency's Government, and to preserve the peace and order of the adjacent States, not by expeditions and aggressions, but by a moral inter- vention, and a determined attitude in respect of the affairs of the territories now in a state of anarchy, the disastrous spectacle which now presents itself in a portion of the Peninsula would never have been exhibited.
We now humbly beg your Excellency on your return to England to bring this our Memorial before Her Gracious Majesty the Queen and the British Government, and
we pray your Excellency to assist your Petitioners by substantiating its statements from your Excellency's personal knowledge of the facts.
We ask for no privileges or monopolies; all we pray of our Most Gracious Queen is, that she will protect us when engaged in honest occupations, that she will continue to make the privilege of being one of her subjects the greatest we can enjoy, and that by the counsel, advice, and enterprise of her Representative in this Colony, she will restore peace and order again in those States, so long connected with her country, not only by Treaty engagements but by friendship and filial attachment; but which, in consequence of the policy now pursued towards them, are rapidly returning to their original state of lawlessness and barbarism.
We now humbly approach your Excellency's presence, trusting that your influence may be exerted to the promotion of our welfare.
And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c.
Yeur Kivei-yew, 3rd moon, 1st day (March 28, 1873).
No. 25.
Signed by the following merchants, &c. (248 in number.)
Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received September 1.)
(No. 216.) My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, July 24, 1873. WITH reference to your Lordship's telegraphic despatch of the 8th July (acknow- ledged in my despatch No. 195 of the 11th July), requesting to be furnished with a report of the proceedings of the "Fair Malacca" at Laroot, I have the honour to forward here- with copies of the whole correspondence which has passed on this subject.
2. As I have already reported to your Lordship in my previous despatches, the country of Laroot is occupied by two rival factions of Chinese, who are, contending for the possession of the valuable mines which are found there; the Rajah, though warned by me of the folly of his conduct, has perversely persisted in encouraging the faction which for the time is victorious, until he has lost all authority in his country, and is at this moment a fugitive from it.
3. In December of last year, he was still at Laroot when fighting was going on between the two parties, who were well supplied with war junks; and in the beginning of that month, two steamers, one belonging to the Rajab, and the other the "Fair Malacca," carrying the British ensign, but there is no doubt in the employ of one of the factions, were fired at whilst coming out of the Laroot River.
4. I arrived at Penang at this time, and the correspondence explains all that took place with reference to this affair. Captain Denison brought away the only two junks which were identified as having fired on the "Fair Malacca," one of which was lost on the
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