PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Co
Reference -
882
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Native Treaties,
précis of.
1. Quedah,
Nanning.
2. Perak.
3. Salangore.
4. Humbow,
5. Johole.
6. Johore.
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vention of the King of Siam, to whom Quedah is tributary, but signed by Her Majesty's Consul at Bangkok and the Prime Minister of Siam.
The Treaties, therefore, by which the settlements are yet bound (and consequently Her Majesty's Government) to the independent native States in the Peninsula (not as regards Sumatra) are the following with Quedah, 6th of May, 1869, negotiated with Siam. Article 1. Previous grant to Her Britannic Majesty of territories referred to in previous Treaties to remain unaltered.
Art. II. Straits Government to continue annual payment of 10,000 dollars for possession of Penang.
Art. III. Definition of boundaries of Province Wellesley (i.e., the mainland.) Art. IV. Practically an excise limitation necessitated by the exigencies of Revenue in bordering States.
Art. V. Mutual extradition of criminals.
Art. VI. Limitation of duties ou exports from Quedah to Straits.
Art VII. As to ratification. N.B.-Quedah is tributary to Siam, and therefore all negotiations with Quedah should be carried on at Bangkok. It should also be observed that by the Treaty of 1802 with Quedah the Empetuaw (as he was then called) consented by Article VI not to allow Europeans of any other nation than the English to settle in his dominions. This provision has disappeared in the Treaty of 1869; possibly because Siam, with which the 1869 Treaty was negotiated, may have a "favoured nation clause" with other European Powers.
Nanning has ceased to exist as an independent State since 1831, and it now forms part of our possession of Malacca. The Nanning Chiefs were bound by the Treaty of 1801 to submit the election of their chief rulers for the approbation of the Government of the Straits.
With Perak Great Britain has five engagements. The first, in 1818, stipulated among less important Articles, that the subjects of Great Britain should in every case be received as those of the most favoured nation, and that "His Majesty of Perak would not renew any obsolete and interrupted Treaties with other nations, public bodies, or individuals, the provisions of which might in any degree tend to exclude or obstruct the trade of British subjects," and that no monopoly of any article of trade, &c., should be granted to any persons, European, American, or natives.
The second (6th September, 1825) and the third (18th October, 1826) are unim- portant. The fourth (of same date with the third, 18th October, 1826) declares at our instigation the independence of Perak, dissolving the connection of that State with Siam and Perak. By the XIVth Article of the Treaty of 1826 with Siam the English engage not to send any force to attack or disturb Perak. The English will not allow Salangore to attack Perak, and the Siamese engage not to attack Salangore. Both countries mutually engage that the Rajah of Perak shall govern his own country according to his own will.
The 5th Treaty (October 25, 1826) is unimportant.
With Salangore the British Government is connected by two Treaties. The first, dated the 22nd of August, 1818, contains (Article XXIV) a most favoured nation clause. Article IV declares that His Majesty the Rajah of Salangore "will not renew any obsolete and interrupted Treaties with other nations, public bodies, or individuals, the provisions of which may in any degree tend to exclude or obstruct the trade of British subjects." Article V forbids a monopoly of the trade to any non-British subject.
The second Treaty (26th August, 1825), is unimportant. And as already shown Siam engages, by Article XIV of the Treaty of 1826, not to attack Salangore, whilst we, on the other hand, have engaged not to allow Salangore to attack Perak.
"
Rambow appears to be a federal republic with which we are bound by three Treaty engagements, The first (November 1831) recognizes their independent existence, and binds the "Rambownese to a rough sort of Extradition Treaty; the second is unimportant. The third (9th January, 1833), is a mere boundary agreement. With Johole there is a boundary Treaty dated June 1833, made direct, the confederacy with Rambow and other States having fallen to pieces.
With Johore, the nearest neighbour of the Settlement of Singapore, there are four Treaty engagements.
The first (August 1818) grants British subjects the advantages of the most-favoured- nation, and forbids the renewal of obsolete or interrupted Treaties, &c., as stated above in various other cases, or the grant of monopolies.
The second, February 1819 (after ratifying previous Articles of agreement between the Sultan and Sir S. Raffles), agrees to certain payments by the East India Company for the occupation of certain portions of the Sultan's territories.
See a Momorandum by Mr. Irving, jage 11 of Salangore, Parliamentary Páper 1872.
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In August 1824 occurs the third Treaty, ceding Singapore to the British for pecuniary payments, to which reference will subsequently be made (Articles II, III, IV, VI, VIII), and binding the Company to afford, "in case of need, a personal asylum and protection to their Highnesses," but not binding either party to interfere " with the political dissentions or wars which may arise within the respective territories" of the contracting parties, nor "to support each other against any third party whatsoever."
The fourth Treaty (December 1862) is unimportant, except that it releases Her Majesty's Government from the possible payment under certain contingencies of an annuity of 15,000 dollars to the Tumongong or his heirs.
There exists, in addition, an engagement between the Tumongong and the Sultan of Johore of March 1855, in which it is agreed that the Sultan shall not alienate or dispose of the Kassang territory (then in dispute between them) without the same being in the first place offered to the Honourable East India Company, and afterwards to the Tumongong on terms which any third party whatever might have declared its willingness to accept.
Kelantan and Tringama are tributary to Siam, but protected by Treaty with Her 7. Kelantan. Majesty's Government. I have not been able to find these Treaties. The two States were 8. Tringama. then supposed and maintained by us to be independent, but it was subsequently ascertained that we were wrong, and their dependency on Siam recognized; and by the Treaty of 1827* with Siam, Kelantan (or Calantan), and Tringama are opened to British trade and inter- course, and declared to be protected from molestation, attack, or disturbance on the part of the English. By Article X of the Treaty of 1855, the British have the rights of the most-favoured-nation clause.
The following are the political pensions payable by the Straits Government, as shown Political Pensions in the Estimates of 1873:- Rajah of Quedah, 10,000 dollars per annum for the cession or payments. of Penang and Province Wellesley.
Family of Bindarah of Quedah, who fled to Penang on the invasion of Quedah by Siam in 1822, 252 dollars. Plus arrears of the same pension, 1,071 dollars.
Sultan Allie of Johore 2,040 dollars, an eleemosynary grant dating 1847. And to Tunka Saphia 666 dollars, a similar grant and from the same date.
The Tumongong of Johore's family, names to me unknown, 2,760 dollars eleemosynary. Other smaller pensions, 2,700 dollars.-Total 19,483 dollars.
The State of Fahang was originally a dependency of Johore, and may be considered, to a certain extent, to be under the protection of the Straits Settlements Government, for although we are under no Treaty obligations with Pahang, the Bandahara has, on occasions of internal depressions or external attack, sought their advice and protection, and to the assistance so afforded Pahang has mainly obtained its present independent position.
Colonial Office, September 8, 1873.
Inclosure 2 in No. 31.
Article XIV of the Treaty with Siam of 1826.
THE Siamese and English mutually engage that the Rajah of Perak shall govern his country according to his own will. Should he desire to send the gold and silver florins to Siam as heretofore, the English will not prevent his doing as he may desire. If Chao Phya of Ligor desires to send down to Perak with friendly intentions forty or fifty men, whether Siamese, Chinese, or other Asiatic subjects of Siam; or, if the Rajah of Perak desires to send any of his Ministers or officers to seek Chao Phya of Ligor, the English shall not forbid them. The Siamese or English shall not send any force to go and molest, attack, or disturb Perak. The English will not allow the State of Salangore to attack or disturb Perak, and the Siamese shall not go and attack or disturb Salangore. The arrangements stipulated in these two last Articles respecting Perak and Quedah, Chao Phya of Ligor shall execute as soon as he returns from Bankok.
1
• Siam.
See Treaties, Engagements, and Sunnuds.
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