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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

ILLIT CO. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Sir,

130

Inclosure 1 in No. 82.

Singapore, February 18, 1874. I HAVE the honour to forward to you, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, copy of a Resolution, unanimously adopted this day, at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Hon. J. W. W. Birch, Colonial Secretary,

Straits Settlements, Singapore.

I remain, &c.

(Signed) W. H. RENY, Chairman.

Inclosure 2 in No. 82.

Resolution.

THE Chamber of Commerce, having taken into consideration the engagements lately entered into by the Chiefs of Perak, with his Excellency the Governor, desires respectfully to express its entire approval of the measures adopted to put a stop to the piracy and misrule which have so long prevailed in that Province: And it sincerely trusts, that his Excellency will continue to pursue the just, firm, and conciliatory policy thus inaugurated, until the whole of the so-called independent States of the Malayan Peninsula shall be brought under similar control.

The Chamber is satisfied that it is by such measures only that a rich and fertile country, which has been too long neglected, and allowed to lapse into anarchy, can be brought under British influence, and opened to civilization and commerce, and that they constitute the course of action most worthy of a great nation.

No. 83.

Governor Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G., to the Earl of Kimberley. (Received March 30.)

(No. 43.) My Lord,

Government House, Singapore, February 24, 1874.

MY recent visit to Salangore, an account of which accompanies my despatch No. 44, of this day's date, has delayed the transmission of further detailed information, which I now beg to submit to your Lordship, respecting the late proceedings in the native State of Perak, and in continuation of my despatch No. 14 of the 26th ultimo.t

2. Even this information, however, will have to be supplemented, as soon as the Commissioners left at Laroot shall have finally reported the result of their labours, since I bave at present only received accounts of them by telegraph,-accounts which, I am happy to be able to inform your Lordship, are eminently satisfactory.

3. I have also been unofficially informed, that the late Bandahara Ismael, who was Acting Sultan, has expressed his adherence to the engagement of the other Chiefs, and the recognition of Abdullah as Sultan, only stipulating that provision should be made for

his son.

4. For convenience of reference, I now inclose to your Lordship the following papers -printed-as they may be required in regard to even other native States, than the one upon which I am now reporting.

These papers are--

(a.) Précis of the affairs of Perak, by Mr. Skinner, C.S.

(b.) Memorandum relative to a visit to Perak in 1872, by Mr. Irving.

(c.) Correspondence between the Governor of this Colony, and the Secretary of State,

prior to my arrival.

(d.) Correspondence which I have had with your Lordship since my assumption of the Government.

(e.) My despatch No. 14, of 28th January last, and all its inclosures.

(f) Various correspondence, petitions, reports, &o., not included in despatch No. 14, regarding the late disturbances in Laroot.

(9.) A Report by Mr. Braddell, the Attorney-General, of the proceedings at Perak, and Laroot, on the occasion of my last visit.

(h.) Copies of the old Treaties with Perak.

• No. 84.

+ No. 69.

131

5. This last report contains some very valuable information, and it is accompanied by some remarks on the present state of affairs generally throughout the MalayanTM Peninsula.

6. Your Lordship will have seen from the 6th and 7th clauses of the " entered into by the Chiefs of Perak " that they desire to establish a British Resident at Perak Engagement at the immediate residence of the Sultan, and an Assistant Resident, subordinate to the former officer at Laroot. As briefly stated in the "Engagement," the advice of these officers must be asked, and acted upon, on all questions other than those touching Malay religion and custom; and it is also specially laid down that they shall advise as to the collection and control of all revenues, and as to the general administration of the .country,

7. This proposal of appointing British officers to reside in these Malay States is not a new one. It was first proposed to appoint them for the purpose of assisting the legitimate Rulers of the country, and with a view to teaching them the great, and yet simple, principles of good government, of showing them the most feasible or practical methods of opening up their countries, and thus increasing their material prosperity, and of instructing them in the easiest method of collecting their revenue, and of spending it judiciously when collected.

8. This course was proposed by a Committee consisting of Mr. A. Birch, Major McNair, and Captain Robinson, R.N., in 1871, but was not then supported, as difficulties apparently were anticipated in meeting or providing for the cost of their establishments.

9. Further, your Lordship had instructed me apecially to consider whether it would be advisable to appoint a British cfficer to reside in any of the States," but your Lordship added that, "such appointments could, of course, only be made with the full consent of the native Government, and the expenses connected with it would have to be defrayed by the Government of the Straits Settlements."

10. As will be seen, the Sultan of Perak had anticipated this proposal, and had, in common with all his great men, asked me to give him “a man of suficient abilities to live with him in Perak, or at any fit place not far from him, to show him a good system of government for his dominions so that his country may be opened up, and bring profits and increase the revenues, as well as peace and justice. "

The proposal, therefore, I have

no hesitation in saying, meets with the fullest concurrence from the native Chiefs.

11. I have already stated that I felt convinced the expense of such establishments would be gladly borne (were it necessary) by this Government, and time has still more confirmed me in that opinion, for I find, on every side, the most unhesitating and unvarying expression of opinion, both European and native, that nothing but the residence of a British officer can bring about in any of these States that pacification which is so greatly needed, and from the absence of which trade and commerce have at last become com- pletely paralyzed.

12. I may here, I think, properly quote a resolution of the Chamber of Commerce, adopted on the 18th instant at a general meeting of that body:-"The Chamber of Commerce having taken into consideration the Engagement lately cutered into between the Chiefs of Perak in the presence of his Excellency the Governor, desires respectfully to express its entire approval of the measures adopted to put a stop to the piracy and misrule which have so long prevailed in that province, and it sincerely trusts that his Excellency will continue to pursue the just, firm, and conciliatory policy thus inaugurated, until the whole of the so-called independent States of the 'Malayan Peninsula shall be brought under similar control.

"The Chamber is satisfied that it is by such measures only that a rich and fertile country, which has been too long neglected and allowed to lapse into anarchy, can be brought under British influence and opened to civilization and commerce, and that they constitute the course of action most worthy of a great nation."

13. The Chiefs fully entered into the necessity of their revenue being made to bear the cost of the establishment of these officers, and I feel pursuaded that, when the country is once quiet and the revenue regularly and properly collected, it will be found that funds are available, not only for these establishments and the necessary police, but for a fair civil list to the Sultan and the Chiefs, with a considerable balance for public works and improvements.

•

14. It has been suggested, as an alternative scheme to the appointment of Residents in each native State, that one single officer should be appointed, whose duty it should be to supervise the affairs of the whole of the States, visiting them all periodically, and returning after each tour to Singapore.

In support of this proposal it has been argued that the Malays, from their natural habits, would be disinclined to receive the perpetual advice of an officer who was always