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you that your proposed inquiry into the political charges against Abdullah might be held before the Executive Council.
3. I do not, indeed, lose sight of the fact that this course, though on the whole the most expedient that can be followed under the circumstances, is by no means free trom difficulty. Abdullah, as the head of an independent State, cannot be held to be subject to the jurisdiction of any tribunal either in his own country or in the Straits ettlements, and as the murder of Mr. Birch was committed beyond the boundary,
The action, therefore, of clearly no court of the Colony could try the Sultan for it. the Executive Council in this matter can only be in the nature of a commission of inquiry without power to inflict a sentence.
Should it therefore appear as the result of such inquiry that Abdullah is guilty of the harge made against him, and should it thereupon appear necessary for the safety of Her Majesty's dominions that he should be removed from the Malay Peninsula, it will be the duty of Her Majesty's Government to cause steps to be taken for securing this in detention in the Straits object, and in the meanwhile Abdullah must remain Settlements. This, I apprehend, you will have power to effect by your warrant under Ordinance, No. 4. of 1876. It would then be necessary to determine to what part of Her Majesty's dominions he should be deported in order that the necessary powers may be obtained from the legislature of the Colony which is to receive him for keeping him in confinement there, and upon this point I should be glad if you would give me your opimon as to the place to which it would be best to send him, and in particular whether the Colony of Labuan would be a fit and proper place for the purpose.
4. In a recent telegram I have mentioned the Seychelles as possibly suitable, but there might be greater difficulty in making arrangements for his reinoval to and residence in one of those islands.
5. I have much pleasure in expressing to you my satisfaction at the care with which you are devoting yourself to a solution of a question which is surrounded by many difficulties, and I see no reason to doubt that you are right in appointing Rajah Muda Yusuf to act as Regent for the Sultan during his absence from Perak, and in the event of the Sultan's guilt being established of sending his chiefs to Perak to be tried there.
I am, &c. Governor Sir Wm, Jervois,
(Signed) CARNARVÖN. &c.
&c. &c.
(Confidential.}
Enclosure.
SIR,
Horse Guards, War Office, October 12, 1876. The Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief has had under his serious consideration a correspondence which has been received from the Colonial Office, in reference to the hanging of a Malay named Panjang Meroo, at Tumong in Perak, by your orders.
From the perusal of your letter of the 24th February last to the Governor of the Straits Settlements, and from Sir W. Jervois' Despatches enclosing the statements of the officer in actual command of the party of the Naval Brigade who executed the man, as well as of the Acting Deputy Commissioner accompanying the expedition, His Royal Highness deeply regrets to say he can come to no other conclusion than that the responsibility of this act rests with yourself alone.
It is also equally apparent to His Royal Highness that whilst the circumstances at the time in question required a severe example to be made of those hostile natives of notorious character (of whom Panjang Meroo was one) who were endangering the peace of the neighbourhood by their unlawful acts, yet that, as this man was taken alive, he ought most undoubtedly to have been brought before a drum-head or ordinary court martial, or other constituted tribunal, and if convicted and sentenced, might then have suffered the no doubt deserved penalty of his crimes.
Holding these opinions, and making every allowance for the difficulties and necessities
of the situation, His Royal Highness feels compelled to express his deep regret at the course that was adopted in peremptorily ordering the summary execution of this Malay without any sort of trial.
Br.-General Ross, C.B.,
&c.
&c. &c. Calcutta.
No. 105.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. ARMSTRONG,
Major-General and Deputy Adjutant-General."
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
No. 103.
GOVERNOR SIR W. F. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF
(Telegraphic.)
CARNARVON.
(Received October 24, 1876.)
October 23rd. The Sultan Abdullah has made replies to charges which are entirely unsatisfactory. The question as to procedure to be followed has been discussed in Executive Council, and resolution come to send all the evidence that has been taken the charges and replies together with our recommendation to your Lordship.
SIR,
No. 104.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
War Office, October 26, 1876.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th August* last transmitting, with reference to previous letters, a copy of a Despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements relative to the execution of a Malay under orders issued by Brigadier-General Ross; and, in reply, I am to transmit to you, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, a copy of a letter which has been addressed to that officer expressing the views of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, with regard to the course taken in this matter by Brigadier-General Ross.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
• No. 55.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. C. VIVIAN.
SIR,
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
Downing Street, October 26, 1876.
I AM directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Hardy, a copy of a telegram from Sir W, Jervois, relative to the disposition of the troops in the Native States of the Malay Peninsula, and I am to
request, with reference to your letter of 21st July last + that instructions may be at once 21st Vetober.
sent by telegraph in accordance with the arrangements that were then agreed upon.
Having regard to the whole course of events in the Malay Peninsula since November last, Lord Carnarvon has no doubt that Mr. Hardy will agree with him in thinking it absolutely necessary that the practical conduct of the operations in connexion with the withdrawal of the troops from the Native States must be left, under present circumstances, exclusively in the hands of Sir W. Jervois,
I have, &c.
The Under Secretary of State, War Office.
SIB,
(Signed)
No. 106.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
War Office, October 27, 1876. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th instant, regarding the disposal of the troops in the Straits Settlements and Native States of the Malay Peninsula, and to acquaint you, in reply, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, that a telegram was last evening despatched to the General Officer Commanding China, and to the Commandant at Singapore, in accordance with Lord Carnarvon's request.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
• No. 100.
I have, &c. (Signed)
↑ No. 33.
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J. C. VIVIAN,