سيسيل سيسا
། ། ། །
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
3
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Par. 75.
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on the immediate adoption of another system designed to meet the same object; and I cannot but remark in passing, with reference to the 66th paragraph of your Despatch, that, if the Residential system had collapsed, it is not easy to perceive how you could have brought yourself to believe that " a comparatively small step in advance" or "a slight " modification of the system" would be likely to remove “the dead-lock ” you have described.
36. In justification of your decision to carry this policy into immediate effect, you in the main urge your own belief that the course of action would meet with unqualified approbation.
In the third paragraph of your Despatch you speak of the course of action "which it was imperative to adopt," and you appear to assume, as you do also in the 53rd and 54th paragraphs, that the course you adopted was the only alternative to an abandon- ment of the position that had been occupied by the British Government since the ratification of the Pangkore engagement. I cannot admit that this dilemma was a neces- On the one hand Her Majesty's Government were not free lightly to recede upon the appearance of difficulty from their endeavours to terminate the anarchy which had long prevailed; on the other hand, if a change of policy had become necessary, the nature of that policy could only be finally determined by them, and a decision on the point ought not to have been anticipated by the Government of the Straits Settlements.
sary one,
37. But you acted on the assumption that your proceedings would meet with my ap- proval, and you justify this in the 71st and 72nd paragraphs by a comparison of the action of Sir A. Clarke in January 1874, with your own in October last. I do not perceive, however, that the circumstances of the two cases are similar. In the former case the serious disorders in Laroot had reached & point requiring immediate action, and the plea of urgency could fairly be brought forward. My predecessor, in view of those disorders and the injury to trade and British interests consequent on the prevailing anarchy, had previously instructed Sir A. Clarke to consider what steps could be taken to restore peace, admitting that it was incumbent on Her Majesty's Government to employ their influence to this end; and with the exception of Captain Speedy's appointment to Laroot, Sir A. Clarke took no other immediate action consequent on the treaty until after the subject had been fully brought before Her Majesty's Government.
Nor did Sir A. Clarke pretend to speak and act "as if charged with full authority,” for he Par. 50, p. 116 expressly states in the Despatch reporting his proceedings, "I trust your Lordship will printed papan. « understand that by so giving my assent I have in no way bound Her Majesty's "Government to any particular course, and that it is perfectly possible now to with- "draw from the position I have temporarily assumed." In so acting he no doubt incurred a serious responsibility, and because I gave him a qualified approval in the unusual circumstances of the case it by no means follows that can approve a complete change of policy, made without authority, not conceived with due regard to the necessity it involved of providing against resistance, and disastrous in its consequences.
38. Assuming, however, all and everything that you have urged in justification of the course which you adopted, assuming further the imperative need of immediate action, it was absolutely incumbent on you to communicate with me in the ordinary manner. The telegraph was available, and the difficult position in which you have placed both yourself and Her Majesty's Government is in fact directly due to your omission to consult me in that manner, for which I do not find in your Despatch any other justifica tion than that contained in the 76th paragraph, where you state that you deliberately determined not to do so as you felt it impossible to enter with sufficient fulness into the question, and so to convey a distinct view of the reasons for your action. This explanation I need only remark is of itself sufficient to show that you were conscious of the complicated position of affairs, of the absence of complete information on the subject in this Department, and of the magnitude of the change which you were making; and these considerations alone should have been sufficient to induce you, in the absence of any urgent grounds for immediate action, to submit your proposals for approval instead of relying upon your own judgment.
39. With reference to the question of the future policy which ought to govern the rela- tion of Her Majesty's Government towards Perak I purpose to address you in a separate Despatch; and I will now add only the expression of the sincere reluctance and pain with which I have felt myself constrained to express an unfavourable opinion of some part of your proceedings.
It is not my object to convey censure, and, indeed, I have already highly approved the conspicuous ability and determination with which you acted subsequently to the out-
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break of these disorders. I am glad to take this opportunity of repeating my appre ciation of your conduct during this period, but I am confident that your long experience as a distinguished servant of the Crown will make you fully aware, on reflection, that an officer representing Her Majesty in a distant dependency must be most careful to assure bimself that the Government to which he is responsible not only understands but approves any important administrative or political changes which he may contem- plate; that he is not at liberty of his own motion to initiate such measures; and that the necessity for obtaining a distinct assurance of approval is so great as to outweigh any advantage which might appear to him likely to ensue from more immediate action. I am equally confident that I can rely as fully upon your cordial and unreserved co-operation in that policy which will be announced to you as if it had not unfortunately been my duty to disapprove of some of your recent acts and opinions.
I have, &c. (Signed)
Governor Sir W. Jervois,
K.C.M.G., C.B.
No. 81.
CARNARVON.
GOVERNOR SIR W. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF CARNARVON. (Received May 22, 1876.) (No. 171.)
MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that, at the commencement of last month, Mr. W. E. Maxwell, Acting Deputy Commissioner at Qualla Kangsa, having obtained information as to the whereabouts of the Maharajah Lela, I instructed him to proceed with a party of friendly Malays to attempt the capture of that Chief.
Government House, Singapore, April 19, 1876.
A party of Malays which had been engaged under Mr. Hewick in the pursuit of Ex- sultan Ismail was also despatched after the Maharajah Lela.
2. On the 15th instant I received a telegram from Mr. Maxwell, informing me that
he had pushed on to the frontiers of Patani, that the Maharajah Lela had fled into that State, and that the petty Chiefs would do nothing in the matter.
3. Upon receipt of this intelligence I addressed a letter to the Consul General at Bangkok (copy enclosed), describing the circumstances of the case, and requesting him to move the Siamese Government to surrender the Maharajah Lela and his followers to the British Government. I likewise forwarded to him copy of the Enclosures in your Lordship's Despatch, No. 50, of 4th March, informing him that your Lordship regarderi these men as murderers of the late Mr. Birch, and not as political refugees. I almo telegraphed to Colonel Anson, to address, in my name, a letter on the subject to the Rajah of Singora, who has local authority over Patani.
4. The man Tuah, who is mentioned in Mr. Maxwell's telegram, was one of the actual perpetrators of the murder, for whom a reward of $3,000 has been offered, and a subsequent telegram informs me that he has been identified by a native of Patani.
I myself do not feel certain of his identity.
I have, &c.
(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,
&c. Colonial Office.
20.
Copy of Telegram received on the 15th April 1876. From Mr. W. E. MAXWELL to Govakvon, Singapore.
"Reached Kendrong near frontier 6th,-pushed on Lela's house same day with 40 Malaya-Leia fled across river,-applied Patani authorities surrender,-patty chiefs would do nothing,-left, 20 men, Kendrong-Syed Mahmood visited me, promised obedienos, have hopes Tusb is prisoner,Lala still in Patani,-suggest letter Raja Sangora viå Kedah through Anson, returned to-day by Muda.”
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