PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
TICO. 882
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the conduct of an officer holding a position of high trust and confidence as a Resident, especially so in the case of an officer of whose talents, energy, and judgment he has formed a high opinion; and I am in conclusion to assure you of the interest which his Excellency takes in the efforts which you are making for the prosperity and advancement of the country, and of his support in the exercise of your legitimate functions as Resident.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. DOUGLAS,
Colonial Secretary, S. S.
Her Britannic Majesty's Resident, Salangore.
BRITISH RESIDENT, Salangore, to COLONIAL SEcretary.
(No. 150/78.) SIB,
British Resident's Office, Klang, Salangore,
May 27, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 21st instant, Native Salangore, 2332/78, conveying his Excellency the Governor's disapproval of the proceedings of the collector and magistrate of Birnam and myself in reference to the arrest of Tunku Panglima Rajah, after having offered a bribe to Mr. Newbronner; also that the Governor disapproved of my proposal to the Mixed Council and His Highness the Sultan that the Panglima subject to the sanction of his Excellen y should be deposed from his seat in Council.
Further, that I am to caution Mr. Newbronner as to his future conduct; to move the Sultan to reinstate the Panglima Rajah in his seat in Council, and to continue his allowance; that I am to inform the members of Council of the reinstatement of that Chief; and that I am to warn Tunku Panglima Rajah against a repetition of the misconduct he was guilty of in offering a bribe to Mr. New bronner.
In obedience to his Excellency's commands, I proceeded to Jugra on the 25th, and carried out the instructions I was honoured with. I moved the Sultan to reinstate Tunku Panglima Rajah as a member of Council and to continue his allowance, and His Highness followed out the advice I tendered, at the same time calling for the Panglima, and in very strong and unmistakeable language pointing out the error he was guilty of in offering a bribe to a magistrate. The Tunku Muda, who was present, spoke in the same
terms.
On this, I proceeded to the collector and magistrate's residence, and met the Council, to whom I communicated the authority of the reinstatement of Tunku Panglima Rajah, and called upon that Chief to hear what I had, under his Excellency's commands, to communicate in reference to the Panglima's proceedings at Birnam.
He promised that he would carefully avoid any repetition of such conduct; that he would assist the Sultan, the Council, and the Resident in the government of the country; and that he would attend to his duties as headman of Kanchong by residing more constantly at his post than hitherto.
On this the Council invited the Tunku Panglima Rajah to take his seat at the Council, and the proceedings terminated.
I must now express my regret that my proceedings in this case have not met with the approval of his Excellency, and I accept with great pain the severe censure contained in your Despatch; at the same time I acknowledge with great pride and satisfaction the gratifying mention made of my humble endeavours to develop and advance this country. Mr. Newbronner has been informed of the contents of your Despatch, and cautioned sa directed.
I have, &c.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,
Singapore.
(Signed) B. Douglas,
Her Britannic Majesty's Resident, Salangore.
No. 2.
GOVERNOR SIR W. C. F. ROBINSON, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, BART. (Received July 27, 1878.)
Government House, Singapore, June 13, 1878.
SIB,
ADVERTING to my Despatch No. 170 of this date, I have the honour to submit copies of correspondence which has recently passed with reference to the proper position and functions of Her Majesty's Residents in the protected Native States.
I have, &c. (Signed) WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON. The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.,
&c. Colonial Office.
SIR,
&C.
&c.
Enclosure in No. 2.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY to HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY's Residents.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore, May 17, 1878.
His Excellency the Governor desires me to inform you that his attention has been called to recent cases in which the proper functions and authority of Residents and their Assistants in the protected Native States have been exceeded. His Excellency, therefore, desires me to call your particular attention to this office letter No. 5115/76 of the 19th August 1876, stating in general terms the duties of Residents in the Native States, and covering the Secretary of State's Despatch of the 1st June 1876, laying down the future policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to these States.
His Excellency desires that you should be reminded that the Residents have been placed in the Native States as advisers, not as rulers, and if they take upon themselves to disregard this principle they will most assuredly be held responsible if trouble springs out of their neglect of it.
am to request that you will without delay inform those of your assistants who may be affected by them of his Excellency's views in this matter.
Her Britannic Majesty's Resident,
Sia,
Perak, Salangore, Sungei Ujong.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. DOUGLAS,
Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore,
August 19, 1876.
I AM directed by the Governor to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, copy of a Despatch which has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, indicating the policy which Her Majesty's Government desire to pursue with regard to the Native States in the Malayan Peninsula.
You will observe that in continuing the residential system, Her Majesty's Government define the functions of the Resident to be the giving influential and responsible advice to
the ruler, a position the duties of which are well understood in the East.
The Residents are not to interfere more frequently or to greater extent than is necessary with the minor details of Government; but their special objects should be, the main- tenance of peace and law, the initiation of a sound system of taxation, with the conse quent development of the resources of the country, and the supervision of the collection of the revenue, so as to ensure the receipt of funds necessary to carry out the principal engagements of the Government, and to pay for the cost of the British officers, and what- ever establishments may be necessary to support them.
(Continued in letter to Resident, Perak.)
I transmit herewith two copies of the Despatch for communication to the Assistant Residents at Larut and Bandar Bahru, and am to request that you will enjoin upon them a strict conformity with the spirit of the foregoing instructions.
Her Britannic Majesty's Residents,
Perak and Salangore.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN DOUGLAS.
L. 704.
• No. 1.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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