PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
CO.882
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO |
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that a grant was given to two men to clear 130 acres of land in the large island known as Pulo Pangkor Laut.
6. On my arrival in the Settlements, Colonel Man brought to my notice the right which we possessed to these islands, and dwelt much on the advantage which it would be to occupy them; that many persons, especially Chinese in Penang, who could not obtain land in our territory, were very anxious, and had applied for leave to settle at the Dindings; that their doing so would be no expense to the Government, and that being situated at the mouth of two large rivers the Perak, and the Dinding, they would afford great facilities to the natives to bring their produce there, and deposit it for safety until it could be shipped to Penang, thus avoiding the danger of the petty pirates of the neighbourhood, and exactions of their Rajabs and headnien.
7. Colonel Man also pointed out the difficulty which he had experienced in ascertain- ing exactly what was the land handed over to us by Treaty, that there were only two islands standing out in the sea opposite the Dinding river, viz., Puto (Island) “Pangkor Laut," and a small one to the west of it; and that he thought Pulo Dinding and the other islands must be sought for in some of the land at the mouth of these rivers which was separated from the mainland by the numerous creeks traversing it in different directions. 8. 1 told Colonel Man I could take no steps in the matter until it was clearly ascertained what was the land we were entitled to, and as the Laksamana, a high officer of the Raja of Perak, was then at Penang, engaged in settling with Colonel Man certain questions between the two Governments, I desired him to endeavour to come to an understanding on this point also. After considerable discussion, I understood they had nearly arrived at a conclusion, when Colonel Man's sudden departure for India left the inatter where it was.
9. Since then, several communications have passed between Colonel Anson and the Laksamana, and letters have been written to the Raja of Perak requesting him either to come himself, or to depute one of his officers to meet Colonel Anson, or some one on my behalf, to settle the boundaries of the land specified in the Treaty. The Raja, like most native Princes, has very little inclination for business of any sort, and although he very readily promised to comply with my request, he has as yet failed to do so.
10. About three months since, I took advantage of Captain Playfair's being relieved at Malacca to send him with a letter to the Raja, urging him to come to a settlement of the question. Captain Playfair had a long and interesting conversation with the Raja and several of his principal men, and the Raja Sinally promised to send his Bandaharah (Treasurer) to Penang, to agree with Colonel Anson upon the boundaries.
11. As soon as this shall have been determined, I shall have to decide whether the occupation of the land is likely to be sufficiently advantageous to the Settlements to justify me in recommending Her Majesty's Government to sanction the step.
12. I may add that I have been enabled, within the last few weeks, to make a personal inspection of the locality, and I am of opinion, with Colonel Man, that the Cession of 1826 included portions of the land at the mouth of the Dinding opposite Pulo Pangkor, unless this land, and the streams which divided it into islands, formed part of the original grant, the cession would have been perfectly useless for the suppression of piracy, since on the appearance of our vessels or boats off Pulo Pangkor, the pirates could at once have taken refuge amongst these islands, where they would have been quite safe from pursuit. But of course upon this point the Raja is as much entitled to entertain his own views as
we are ours.
13. Your Lordship will perceive that all that has been done as yet, is to endeavour to arrive at a conclusion as to the meaning of certain words in the Treaty, and that no conclusion has been come to which would have justified my troubling your Lordship with any communication on the subject.
14. I presume I need hardly say that I have never contemplated accepting or occupying any territory not now belonging to or already occupied by this Government without first obtaining your Lordship's authority for doing so; should I feel called upon to ask your Lordship's sanction to any such arrangement, I shall be prepared to show that the dangers and difficulties contemplated by Mr. Stanley have no existence, and that, on the contrary, very considerable advantages are likely to accrue to the Settlements therefrom.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
The Right Hon the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
&c.
&c.
&c.
H. ST. GEORGE ORD.
161
(No. 157.) Šir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 14th July,
Downing Street, September 10, 1869. furnishing explanation in reply to certain statements which have been addressed to me to the effect that the Colonial Government of the Straits Settlements was claiming the cession of certain islands, &c., in the neighbourhood of Pulo Dinding from the Chief of Perak.
In reply, I have to inform you that I have been glad to learn that you have had no intention of acquiring new or occupying disputed territory without specific instructions to that effect from the Secretary of State; and I must add that I should not be disposed to approve of any proceedings which would extend the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Government in the neighbourhood of the Straits Settlements.
In reporting further on the subject, as you will probably do, I should wish to be furnished with such information as you can supply with respect to the present state of piracy in the waters neighbouring on the Straits Settlements, and the extent to which it avails itself of the cover afforded by the islands in question. Governor Sir H. St. George Ord, C.B.,
&c.
(No. 42.)
&c.
&c.
I have, &c. (Signed) GRANVILLE.
My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, February 23, 1870. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of 10th September, 1869, in reply to my despatch of 14th July, 1869, on the subject of a complaint made to your Lordship that the Colonial Government was claiming the cession of certain islands in the neighbourhood of Perak, in which your Lordship expresses a wish that, when reporting further on the subject, as I shall probably do, I would furnish some information respecting the state of piracy in the neighbouring waters in the Straits Settlements, and the extent to which it avails itself of the cover afforded by the Island of Pulo Dinding.
2. In reply, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the Sultan of Perak not having shown any disposition to join with me in endeavouring to arrive at a decision respecting the boundary of our territory at the Dindings, and it being very difficult to keep up communications with him at a distance in the interior, I have decided to let the question drop for the present, and shall not reopen it until a favourable opportunity presents itself, either by his going to Penang, or coming down to the sea, so as to enable me to meet him.
3. I inclose a Memorandum by Lieutenant-Governor Anson respecting the state of piracy in the neighbourhood of Penang. There is now not a sign of these practices at the Dindings, which, as Colonel Anson observes, is due to the constant visits which have been paid to the locality during the last three years by Government vessels and officials, and also to the fact that we have a Punghulu, or native constable, residing on the Island of Pangkor, who keeps a careful watch over all that goes on, and would at once report any such matters to Penang.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. &c.
&c.
&c.
(No. 144.) My Lord,
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. ST. GEORGE ORD.
Government House, Singapore, June 3, 1871. I have the honour to forward to your Lordship a copy of the Report of a Committee consisting of the Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, Commander Robinson, R.N., Senior Naval Officer of the Straits Division of the China Squadron, and Major McNair, R.A., Colonial Engineer, on the subject of the relation of these Settlements with those neighbouring native States, which are not tributary to any country having a recognized Consul or other Representative accredited to this Government.
2. I was induced to appoint this Committee of inquiry in consequence of the very unsatisfactory state of our relations with all these States, and the injury to trade which is the natural result. I concur in the opinion of the Committee that it would be desirable that a Commission of officers of rank should visit Achin, Perak, and the other States.
'3. I also consider it desirable that there should be frequent communication between
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