No. 20.
། ། ། །
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
سلسل
C.O.
Reference :--
882
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
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they would, before long, be brought under similar control, they broke out against us; repression had to be followed by occupation, which again provoked outbreak, until we find ourselves involved in complications from which the Governor sees no way of extrication except by further interference in the affairs and government of these
States.
9. As your Lordship has asked for an expression of my opinion on these proposals of Sir W. Jervois, I feel bound to state that they appear to me to be calculated to lead us into greater difficulties than we have yet experienced, and by no means certain to produce (even at this risk) any advantage which could not be obtained by other and simpler
means.
10. Some of the principal objections to the proposed scheme are set forth in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of Mr. Herbert's letter to me, and are, I think, quite sufficient to justify its rejection. But others might also be urged, as, that it is intended to abolish the old and well recognised appointment of Zam-Tuan-Besar, although the importance of having one paramount Chief to deal with in place of several petty Datus is fully acknowledged. It is true it is proposed to appoint a certain chief “ Malay Captain" over some of the smaller States, but it is not shown that this title (which I have never heard of) is known to or respected by the people, or that the individual selected for the office would be acceptable to them.
11. I would also point out that, with the exception of making treaties with them, nothing is proposed in regard to the three important states of Sunghie Ujong, Rambowe, and Johole, although the two former have always been a thorn in our side, and the latter is the place which is said to shelter the freebooters who make these attacks on us.
12. With regard to these treaties I desire to express my disbelief in their power to furnish us with any control over their people, which we cannot obtain in a simpler and less objectionable form. They are useful when cessions of territory have to be made, in order to define boundaries. Sometimes also when specific and important engagements are entered into with civilized native rulers, such as those of Johore and Quedah, and occasionally when it is desired to possess authority to interfere in disputes between great native chiefs, as in the case of Johore and Pahang, the Rajahs of which being obliged by treaty to submit any dispute they may have to the arbitration of the Governor, are constrained to keep the peace towards each other in a manner which but for this restriction they would not certainly do.
13. But when made with small native powers they are oftentimes positively mischievous. They cannot contain any stipulation that we cannot msist on in virtue of our position as the paramount power of the country, whilst they afford ground for the idea, which would be readily suggested to a contumacious Rajah by one of his European hangers-on, that we have no right to ask for anything for which they do not provide. I could instance. cases in which an astute Singapore lawyer representing the Maharajah of Johore, has endeavoured to resist claims I have made on his Highness (in reference to the extra- dition of criminals) on the plea of his rights as an independent sovereign, and I have only been able to get over the difficulty by refusing to recognise rights which clashed with Imperial requirements. Had there been a treaty we should have been placed on à footing of equality which would have proved highly embarrasing.
+
14. I trust I shall be excused if I venture to observe that my objection to Sir. W. Jervois' scheme is not limited to its details, but applies quite as much to the principle on which it is based. At present ge stand committed to a policy of partial intervention. in the affairs of some States where we have established Residents, but it is not intended that this policy shall be extended unless on further trial it proves to be a success. Meanwhile, I think it should be our object to extend the influence we possess over the rulers and people of these countries, in the first instance, to secure our own protection from aggression and the safety of our traders, and later on to promote the development of order and good government in the countries themselvesɗn No doubt the two will to some extent proceed" pari passu," but I venture to submit that we shall probably find that the first-named objects supply full employment for all our resourdes for some time to come, and that we may he well satisfied if a reasonable amount of success attends our efforts in this direction.
I have, &c.
}
The Right Hon: the Earl of Carnarvon,
Colonial Office, Downing Street.
(Signed)
#i
H. ST. GEORGE.ORD.
Taib teedi
35
No. 38.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Pall Mall, July 21, 1876.
SIR,
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd inst. giving cover to copies of despatches from the Governor of the Straite Settlements in regard to the command of Her Majesty's troops there stationed. In reply I am to acquaint you for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon that Mr. Hardy concurs generally in his Lordship's opinion, but thinks it desirable that the General Officer commanding at Hong Kong should be informed of all changes that take place in the distribution of the forces in those settlements by the Commandant.
Instructions will be sent to the General Officer commanding in China, and to the Commandant of the Straits Settlements, that the latter is to act at once upon any instructions he may receive from the Governor.
The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
SIR,
No. 34.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. C. VIVIAN,
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Foreign Office, July 21, 1876. WITH reference to my letter of the 22nd ultimo,† I am directed by Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you to be laid before the Earl of Carnarvon, a copy of a further Despatch from Her Majesty's Agent and Consul General at Bangkok, in regard to fugitives from Perak.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
I have, &c. (Signed) TENTERDEN.
MY LORD,
British Agency, Bangkok, June 3, 1876. In continuation of the subject of my Despatch, No. 16, relative to fugitives from Perak, I have now the honour to inclose copy of a letter I have received from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, in answer to my letter to him, copy of which I enclosed in my above-mentioned Despatch, No. 16. abast boggal megztahald
I have, &c. (Signed) T. G. KNOX.
The Earl of Derby, &c. &c. &c.
SIR,
:
Government House, Singapore, May 16, 1876. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of 29th April and 3rd instant, and in reply to state that I am greatly obliged to you for the action taken by you in this matter, and I beg that you will thank the Siamese Government for the steps taken by them to effect the capture of the Mabaraish Lels, and others with him.
With reference to your observation that the Slimesc Covernment are not very well pleased at their tribulary, the Rajah Quedal, häving
rance the means of handing over ↑ ex-Sultan Ismail without my reference having that I understood that the Kajah in surrendering the instructions
them, I should state was acting upon general mid "I regret that
to you on this subject I have ala and his party have returned to evidence asked for to connect the
had received from the SimmerÉ there
ami finderstanding on this point. hong" you, that ginçe 1 That Wro received by brady in cuination that the Maharajah Perák, and therefore I will not at présent, seng i persons accused with the crimes laid to the
Should I, however, find that they again if refuge in Patani or any other state tributary to Slam, I will lose no time in supplying the required depositions.
Begging you again to thank the Siamese Government for the friendly action they have taken. II. D
1
(0)
&c.
T. G. Knox,
&c. &c.
I have, &c. (Signed)
W. F. D. JERVOIS.
No. 24.
↑ No. 22.
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