PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
3
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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régime as the best thing that could happen to them, and they earnestly trust that the policy will be effected and ably carried out.
The financial question comes next, and last, and on that point I think what his Excellency has said will be sufficient to satisfy you that this Government runs no risk in undertaking the responsibilities which you are now asked to undertake. When we con- sider the capabilities of these countries, their history under all conditions of constant anarchy and misrule, and destruction of property, and the enormous amount of revenue raised in some of them, even under these unfavourable circumstances, and when we con- sider what that revenue will be in all of the States when they are under the protection of a Government which gives security to life and property, I ask you to believe that the revenues will be sufficient, and that there is no probability,—I had almost said possibility -of losing our money.
Gentlemen, for these reasons I ask you to give your hearty approval to the policy of his Excellency, with the firm belief that it will be attended with great advantage and great honour to this Colony, and that you will replace the British Government in these sens in its proper position; that is, of protection and encouragement to those who so eminently require it, and thus relieve us from the opprobrium, under which we have BO long lived, of having neglected the duty so clearly imposed on us as the Sovereign and protective Power in the Malayan Peninsula.
The Colonial Engineer. Sir, at this late stage of the debate, very little will be expected from me. In fact, the question has been so fully discussed by previous speakers as to leave little for me to say, beyond endeavouring to make clear to the Council that the interference of the Government, so called, must not be taken to mean that Government has pressed its advice upon any of the native chiefs, but that, on the contrary, it has only been after their entreaty for assistance that his Excellency the Governor has stepped in to mediate and arbitrate between them. I believe that in doing this his Excellency prevented much internal disaster and injury to trade. In the I confine case, however, of piracies, active interference was of course necessary. my remarks chiefly to the effect of this intervention upon the native mind. Having been long on the Peninsula, long acquainted with the Malay character, and having visited Perak, Salangore, and other parts affected by his Excellency's policy, I am quite able to Bay, from intercouse with the principal natives, that they have one and all fully appreciated the views of his Excellency as expressed to them. They have long been waiting for counsel and advice, and whether the happy change that we now see has been brought about by the natural course of events, or by the personal influence and impartiality of the Governor, it is scarcely for me to say, but the fact remains that they all assure me that they have now some one to whoni they can go, and state their complaints, with full confidence that they will be listened to, and that they will be given that assistance and advice which they need to enable them to carry out what they have all along wished to do, but have been hitherto powerless to effect. It is not for me now, after all that has been said about the richness of the Peninsula, to dwell longer upon its great fertility of soil and immense mineral wealth. That it possesses in a remarkable degree all that, as a great commercial Power, we should wish to see developed, is evident. It was only just before the meeting of Council that I was in conversation with his Highness the Maharajah of Johore on this very subject, and he said most aptly, "What is there the British merchant wants for the purposes of trade that is not to be got here? Tobacco, coffee, maize, sugar, indigo, rattans, and perhaps cotton, may be had, while in minerals we know it has both gold and tin in abundance, and perhaps copper." This rich country lies now a scene of waste and disorder, and it is alone by our following out the judicious policy that has been now recommenced that we may look for the eventual development of its resources. As an old resident in the Settlements I give my concurrence, therefore, in the course that has been taken, which has, I repeat, been fully appreciated by the Malays, and as my honourable friend on my left (Mr. Whampoa) informs me, is also estimated by the Chinese throughout the Settlements and along the coast.
Mr. Whampoa.-I am able to state, from my own personal knowledge, that the Chinese in the several native States have the greatest confidence in his Excellency's Government. Many Chinese who have visited Singapore from Perak and other native States on the coast have come to me, anxiously inquiring when the Government were going to send British Residents to the several native Courts for the protection of life and property, saying that that would give them every confidence to live there. They have also asked me to use my influence to induce Chinese with capital to come down from China to form companies for working the tin mines, by which means a large business could be done. The Chinese from Sunghie Ujong especially have mentioned
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that, and the Rajah of that State, with whom I am acquainted, has expressed a wish to have a Resident there. I trust that his Excellency will soon see his way to carry out the great work which he has commenced, and thus give confidence to trade and industry in these countries.
The Chief Justice.-I feel very much indebted to your Excellency for the very able and very lucid statement which you have given to the Council regarding the policy which you have pursued in the Malay Peninsula, and that, supplemented as it has been by the clear and forcible statement of the Attorney-General, who has, as you have stated, so very ably and so very efficiently assisted you, has conveyed to my mind a much clearer view of the state of affairs in the Peninsula than I had before convinced. It is not for me, of course, not being engaged in commercial pursuits, to dilate upon that which has been dwelt upon by other speakers, but there is one thing which falls more immediately within my province to refer to, and that is the enormous advantage both to themselves and to ourselves, which must accrue from putting the inhabitants of those States in connection with these Settlements, and so making them amenable to English influence. I must say that I do rejoice, and I think that your Excellency deserves the thanks of all persons for doing that which is incumbent, as I think, upon an English Government in the position in which such a Government is placed here, and that is to do all in its power to suppress outrage and bloodshed upon the land and piracy upon the sea. Those outrages and those piracies have been a scandal to the British name, happening, as they have so frequently, at so small a distance from our shores, and I rejoice, as every lover of law and order must rejoice, that they are suppressed, that the probability is that they will not again occur, and that this new establishment of order, this suppression of deeds of blood, has been achieved not by violence, but rather in accordance with that higher policy of "Peace on earth, to men of good will." I have no doubt the Council will cheerfully vote the money necessary to carry out this policy, and supported as you are now, Sir, by the unanimous approval of the unofficial members, it will not be in your power, even if you were so disposed, to check or to falter in the excellent course you have adopted. The prestige of England in these regions will now very much depend upon the success or non-success of the policy now inaugurated, and if it is carried out unfalteringly, not as a wretched speculation of as to whether it will pay, not as a mere question of pounds, shillings, and pence,-but upon broader and loftier principals, it will no doubt succeed, and from a great and beneficent era in the history of these Settlements. I trust, therefore, that your Excellency will not be detered by any accidents from carrying out a policy now approved by this Council, and to which we all stand committed; and if it is necessary by force to restrain the refractory, and to incur further expence for that purpose, I hope that you will not hesitate to do so. During my short residence here, I have noticed that the natives watch most keenly the actions of the English. If they see they are determined, they will give in, but if they see any signs of hesitation or of faltering they know they will be masters eventually, and they await the result; and it is therefore, all important to my mind that the policy you have so ably and wisely inaugurated should be carried out to its legitimate conclusion.
The Treasurer. I have already stated in writing what I think on this question, and I can only say now that I agree with everything Mr. Ramsay Scott has just said upon the subject.
The Governor. I understand from the Colonial Secretary that, as this is a loan account, it requires no specific resolution, except being laid before you for your informa- tion. There will, however, be some small amount to be put in the Supplementary I take this opportunity to thank you, one and all, for the support you have Estimates. given me, and I trust that to-day will be a red letter day in the history of this, one of the jewels of the British Crown.
New Harbour Railways.
Mr. W. R. Scott gave notice that at the meeting of the 28th September he would call attention to the further correspondence regarding the proposed railway to New Harbour; and as no Company has been nor can be formed to construct the work, would inquire what steps the Government were prepared to undertake for the purpose of carrying out the recommendation of the Secretary of State, as expressed in the despatch of the 15th May, 1872, and confirmed in that of 29th January, 1874.
[The Council adjourned on Wednesday, the 16th September.]