PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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EPEL C.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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with the consciousness that they will be supported, if necessary, by the whole force of the Government.
24. It may be said that considering the powers at present vested in the Resident such instructions as these would reduce him to the position of a Consular Agent. But this need not be the case, and it would be his own fault if it were so. and order in the interior of a Malay State, to such an extent as to enable him to guarantee The maintenance of peace the safety in life, limb, and property of the humblest Chinese or native trading under our flag—without bringing on a rupture with the Rajah of the country-would call for the exercise of no small amount of ability, patience, and tact on the part of the Resident. Moreover in the intercourse with the Rajahs which this duty would bring about, openings would be found for tendering advice on other matters, the truth and importance of which would be felt, though it might not then and there be acted on, or even acknowledged, and in this way an influence would be built up far superior to any that would be obtained by the mere exercise of his treaty rights.
25. If this course should be approved, it would not seem necessary or expedient that it should be formally or publicly made known. The Residents would be retained at the Courts where they are now established, and, so far as the Rajabs are concerned, their position would be unchanged, but they would act under instructions which would make a considerable difference in the nature of their intercourse. There would be far less open interference in the details of government, and this, though not openly avowed, would soon be apparent to the Rajahs, and it may be hoped would bear fruit in inducing them to lend a more ready ear to those representations and appeals for which the Residents might feel bound to claim attention.
26. It would appear very desirable that the original intention of the Secretary of State with respect to the salaries of the Residents should be carried out, and that they should be provided by the Colony and not by the Rajabs. Whatever some of them may have said to the contrary, there is no doubt but that it is felt to be an unnecessary burden on them.
27. It is submitted that such an arrangement as is here suggested would secure very great advantages to the Colony, whose trade with these States only requires protection to ensure its giving a very handsome return. The immediate benefit to the natives from the re-opening of trade would also be very great, but the ultimate and indirect advantages it would bring with it would be still greater. They would learn a respect for life and property which they do not at present possess, and would become more civilised by frequent contact with Europeans and other strangers, whilst the Rajahs could not fail to acquire a greater sense of their rights, duties, and responsibilities from their intercourse with an intelligent British officer, whose sole object they would soon perceive to be the welfare of themselves and their people, and the improvement of their country.
28. With regard to Perak it is evident that unless we decide to annex it we cannot recede from our present position as de facto rulers of the country until we can find a moderately intelligent and respectable Chief to whom we may properly entrust its adminis- tration under such restrictions as may appear necessary for our own safety and its benefit. Ismail, who probably more nearly fulfilled these requirements than his rival Abdullah, and who certainly had the majority of the people on his side, has put himself out of the question. Abdullah appears now to have shown himself in his true light; and the character given of him by Sir W. Jervois in his recent speech to the Council, strongly bears out the opinion that was expressed by the Governor in 1872, of his unfitness for the throne. It is likely that the Chiefs, in their present frame of mind, would be willing to accept any eligible candidate whom we might offer to them; and probably the Prince who was selected to be Rajah Mudah in succession to Abdullab, and who has in virtue of this a claim to the throne, would be a good person to put forward. Abdullah would, of course, be pensioned as an ex-Sultan-like Sultan Ali of Johore-and provided with a place of residence at or near Singapore or Penang.
29. Much will, however, depend upon the character of this Prince, and should he prove in any respect objectionable, and any difficulty be experienced in making a satisfac- tory selection from the other Princes of the country, it is suggested that an unexception. able candidate might be found in Tunku Kudin, Viceroy of Salangore. This Rajah, who is brother to the Sultan of Quedab, and therefore of what is recognised by the Malays as "blue blood," is, next to the Maharajah of Johore, the most intelligent and advanced of the native rulers of the Peninsula. He has a thorough appreciation of the advantages of European civilisation, and has been accustomed to guide himself by the advice, and to make use of the services, of European agents in the administration of his affairs. He bas always been on excellent terms with our Government, to whose advice he has ever been
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ready to defer. There is no doubt that he is by far the best fitted of all the native rulers of the Peninsula to be entrusted with the Government of Perak; and there is every proba- bility that under his administration, with our countenance and support, the country would soon be brought into a peaceful and prosperous condition.
H. ST. GEORGE ORD.
No. 106.
Telegram from GOVERNOR SIR W. F. D. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., to the EARL OF CARNARVON. (Received at the Colonial Office, January 7.)
Penang, January 7, 1876.
ON 4th Brigadier-General Ross proceeded to disarm Kota Lama, a disaffected Qualla and nest of robbers situated on both banks of the River Perak, two miles above village Kangea, with a force of 100 men of the 3rd Regiment, 45 Ghoorkhas, 12 artillery and 29 blue-jackets. Disarmament on right bank effected without opposition. Troops on left bank marched through the village unopposed.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cox, commanding party, sent message to Ross saying village was deserted, and General then disembarked near centre of village on left bank with staff and small escort. Malays with muskets and spears surprised and nearly surrounded this small isolated party, killed Major Hawkins, two sailors and one Ghoorkha; wounded Surgeon Townsend and two Ghoorkas. Malays beaten off, and village left bank completely destroyed. Force returned to Qualla Kangsa. In States about Malacca. Combined force marched through States of hostile Chiefs, who have fled; houses and campongs of rebels burnt; people returning to their homes. Force now in Sungie Ujong and Malacca. Have just returned from visit to Perak, and am proceeding to Malacca to arrange affairs.
SIR,
No. 107.
ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Admiralty, January 8, 1876.
I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, that the following message, dated Penang, 8th instant, has been received from the Commanding Officer of H.M.B." Modeste:"- "Naval Brigade re-embarked, except 'Philomel's ' men; remaining at present at Qualla "Kama."
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
SIR,
No. 108.
I have, &c. (Signed) ROBERT HALL.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
10
Pall Mall, January 10, 1976. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information
of the Earl of Carnarvon, copies of two telegrams which have been received from the General Officer Commanding in the Straits Settlements.
Lord Carnarvon will observe that in one telegram the General Officer Commanding proposes a permanent addition to the garrison of the Straits Settlements of one regiment and one battery of artillery, and in the other apparently contemplates a prolonged occu- pation of Perak.
Mr. Hardy will be glad to learn as soon as possible what is the view taken by Lord Carnarvon on the subject of these telegrams.
He desires me at the same time to call Lord Carnarvon's attention to the terms under which these settlements were transferred to the Imperial Government, which were com- municated to the Colonial Office in a letter from the Secretary to the Treasury on the 12th May 1866.
The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
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I have, &c. (Signed) J. C. VIVIAN.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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