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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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TILITICO-882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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attends them in these countries under present circumstances, it is impossible for Govern ment to be answerable for their protection or that of their property.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. W. W. BIRCH, Colonial Secretary.

J. G. Davidson, Esq.,

Sir,

Inclosure 4 in No. 10.

Chamber of Commerce, Singapore, 17, 1872. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 21at ultimo, and I am directed by the Chamber of Commerce to make the following reply:

It is respectfully submitted that the Straits Government, knowing as it should the history of the Salangore disturbances, is to a considerable extent responsible for the present unsettled state of that kingdom, in omitting to have Rajah Mahdie arrested and tried for piracy, when such arrest could have been made in Singapore; further, in allowing him to remain quietly in Johore, and in not putting the law in force against him or his agents, when it was well known that they were procuring men, arms, and ammunition from Singapore for the purpose of carrying out depredations in the territory of Salangore.

It appears to the Chamber that the Malacca traders have made out a just claim for the interference of the British Government for the "punishment of aggression on our people," for it is undoubted that aggression on the Malacca traders is being committed, whilst the British Government has permission from the Sovereign of the territory to arrest the ringleaders of the aggressors in the territory where they are making the aggression.

The Malacca traders state, and it is believed truly, since it is uncontradicted, that they were induced to invest their capital in Salangore upon the faith of the vigorous action of Government in July last year, and in the belief that measures would be taken to prevent the mischievous action of the three men declared pirates by the British, and outlaws by the Salangore authorities, and that general countenance and support would be afforded to Tunku Dia Oodin by the Straits Government.

The progress of trade in Malayan territory and the demand for metals and other articles of produce found in those countries are natural consequences of the establishment of Singapore, Penang, and Malacca as free ports. The British Government has hitherto always fostered and encouraged to the utmost the enterprise of the people who have flocked to the flourishing establishments under its control, and has always been ready and willing to give them every legitimate protection in trading with native States, so long as they complied with the laws and regulations of such States. If, however, the last para- graph of your letter states correctly the policy which the Straits Government intends in future to adopt, all confidence in British protection will be lost, a serious check will be given to mercantile enterprise, and the influence of the British Government, which should be paramount in the Malayan Peninsula, materially impaired.

The Chamber, whilst regretting that the remark should have appeared in your letter under reply, have to observe that, even if the Malacca traders had been induced solely by the "prospects of large gains" to run considerable risks, that alone would not warrant the Government in denying them that protection which it is its duty to afford to every British subject.

In conclusion, I am directed to state that, whilst the Chamber would deprecate any recourse to coercive measures, it would urge upon Government the absolute necessity of adopting some straightforward and well-defined policy in dealing with the rulers of the various States of the Malay Peninsula, for the purpose of promoting and protecting com- mercial relations with their respective provinces, as there is every reason to believe that they would readily accept the impartial views and friendly advice of the British authorities. The trade with Salangore is believed to be rather under than over-stated in the Malacca petition, whilst that with Perak, Laroot and other places in the neighbourhood is well known to be of great value and capable of much further developments, and the Chamber submits that, as this valuable trade can only be carried on by capital furnished by British subjects, it is an urgent duty of Government to do all that lays in its power to promote the development of an important commerce, which must ultimately tend to increase the prosperity and the revenues of the Colony.

To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary,

Straits Settlements, Singapore.

I have, &c.

(Signed) W. H. READ.

(No. 253.) Sir,

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No. 11.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir H. St. George Ord.

Downing Street, December 28, 1872.

IN reply to your despatch No. 189 of the 6th November last, I have to express to you my approval of the answer returned by you to the Chamber of Commerce of Singa- pore on the subject of a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Chamber by certain traders at Malacca, who are interested in the trade with Salangore.

I have, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLEY.

No. 12.

Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to the Earl of Kimberley.-(Received December 31.)

(No. 193.) My Lord,

Government House, Singapore, November 11, 1872. IN the despatch No. 189 of the 6th November, which I had the honour to address to your Lordship respecting the condition of native affairs on the west side of the Peninsula, I stated that the recent serious fighting in Laroot was in a measure due to the assistance furnished by Chinese residents in Penang, and that it appeared probable that, the local Government bad not taken sufficient precautions to prevent the people of Penang from illegally mixing themselves up with Laroot affairs.

2. I was not, when I wrote, in possession of all the circumstances of the case, but I have since received from Acting Lieutenant-Governor Campbell the special report which I had called for from him respecting it; and, having brought the matter to your Lordship's notice, I think it right to forward for your Lordship's information the whole correspon- dence, including the final reply, which I have felt called on to make to Mr. Campbell's letters.

Sir,

I have, &c.

(Signed) H. ST. GEORGE ORD.

Inclosure 1 in No. 12.

Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Penang, October 18, 1872.

I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency, the result of an expedition I have just made in Her Majesty's steam-ship "Nassau to the Coast of Laroot, for the purpose of ascertaining how far certain Chinese merchants of Penang are guilty of raising and equipping in Penang and despatching to the Laroot State within the last few days a force which is likely to create very serious disturbances in that State.

2. On the afternoon of the 16th instant, Captain Speedy, Superintendent of Police, reported to me the departure, on the previous night from Penang, of a large junk, having on board about 100 China men, 200 muskets and bayonets, twelve 4-pounder guns, and a considerable quantity of ammunition and spear-heads. This vessel had a port-clearance for Perak.

Captain Speedy further mentioned a rumour that several other junks similarly equipped had, within the preceding day or two, left the harbour for the same destination, and that severe fighting against the Chinese faction, at present in the ascendant, in Laroot, and against the Rajah who favours this faction, was imminent. On this information I, after some little inquiry, requested Commander Chimmo, of Her Majesty's steam-sloop "Nassau," then in harbour, to delay his departure for a day or two.

3. Later on the same day I received a petition from the Laroot Rajah's agent, saying that 1,000 armed men had, on the previous day, been secretly despatched from Penang, and were now burning and ravaging in Laroot, and imploring me to interfere with the man-of-war. I caused the information of this man, and of his witnesses, to be taken by a Magistrate, and had warrants issued against the men who had equipped the expedition and despatched it to Laroot, but they had disappeared, having gone, it was said, to Laroot. I then arranged with Captain Chimmo to go down that night in the "Nassau" to the mouth of the Laroot river, and from there to send in and ascertain the state of matters. I'decided to do this, firstly, in order to bring thoroughly home to the persons who had

• No. 10.