CO882-(2-3) — Page 236

TIITTI

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference—

882

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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supports the claims of the Raja Muda to be the rightful Sovereign, and that which support the claims, founded on recent election by the Chiefs, of Raja Ismail, the Rajah Bandahara, who is the uncle of the Raja Muda, or Raja Abdullah, as he is named.

If peace were established, the Chinese population of Larut alone would very soon entirely swamp the Malay population of the entire country of Perak which is estimated at only 30,000 persons.

Before the riots broke out the Chinese population of Larut, which was almost entirely an adult male population, was about equal, I believe, to the whole population of Perak.

Under all these circumstances, it has I think become quite a question for the consi- deration of the Imperial Government whether in the interest of the peace of this Colony, as well as in that of the Malay population of Perak, who anxiously desire good government and the protection which all natives enjoy under the Government of this Colony, the country of Perak should not be either taken under the immediate protection of this Colony or. annexed to it.

So far as I can learn, the only persons likely to object to such a transfer would be a few Chiefs who live a life of ease and debauchery on what they can grind out of the unfortunate riots.

It is this system of exaction which has hitherto prevented, and must always prevent, any improvement in the industry of the people, who see no object in augmenting their earnings merely to support their Chiefs in vice and profligacy.

1

It was evident to me, as it was also to Captain Grant, during the cruise in the "Midge," that gun-vessels of the class of the " Midge" and "Avon are useless for operations on the Malayan coast in consequence of the shoalness of the water for long distances from the shore, as well as over the bars of the numerous rivers, which, however, as a rule, have deep water within them.

The general distance from the mouth of a river at which the "Midge" had to anchor was about 6 or 7 miles, and great difficulty was found in crossing the bar even in the steam-launch "Mata Mata," which draws only 4 feet of water.

It was found almost impossible to land anywhere from a boat drawing more than a few inches of water.

The whole of the western side of the Malayan coast is a network of rivers and creeks; the latter varying from a considerable width and depth to barely the width of a small boat with a depth of only an inch or two, in fact, some run dry at low water.

All these creeks are overhung by trees whose branches droop close over the water's edge.

The difficulty of finding, keeping in sight, and overtaking long low narrow boats, drawing but a few inches of water, and manned by not less than forty-two oars, twenty-one on each side, for such the pirate boats are described to be, will, therefore, be apparent.

I directed my confidential clerk and interpreter, Mr. Kynnersley, who accompanied me on board the "Midge," to keep a journal of proceeding, with notes of any information he could obtain from the Malays; a copy of this journal is annexed.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

To the Honourable the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

A. E. H. ANSON,

Lieutenant-Governor, Penang.

P.S.-A plan showing the places visited is appended.

Note. Then follow the undermentioned Despatches which will be found printed in their proper places:-

Sir A. Clarke to the Earl of Kimberley, December 15 and 29,† 1873.

The Earl of Kimberley to Sir A. Clarke, September 20, 1873,

(No. 59.) Sir,

Downing Street, April 22, 1868.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your despatch of 31st December, relating to certain negotiations between yourself and the Rajah of Quedah, and raising for the determination of Her Majesty's Government the question, what authority ought to be entrusted to the Governor of the Straits Settlements in respect to neighbouring States, whether Native or European.

No. 31.

• No. 65.

+ Not printed.

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In substance I entirely approve of the arrangement which you made with the Rajah of Quedah, as embodied in the agreement of 19th September, and of the provisions contained in the draft Treaty, which the Rajah refused to sign, and I wish you to understand that the following observations are intended not to convey any censure on you for the course you have pursued in points of procedure and detail, but to ensure regularity hereafter on matters in which, not having received any instructions from Her Majesty's Government, you seem to have acted as you thought best for the public interest, but without fully considering the nature and extent of the authority which you held.

I am not fully aware to what extent the Governor of the Straits Settlements while under the Government of India was authorised, or had been allowed to contract, cancel, or modify Treaties with neighbouring States without the express sanction of that Government. But in your own case, you will find that neither your Commission as Governor of the Straits Settlements, nor any subsequent instructions from Her Majesty, convey to you any such authority, and I need scarcely add that the function of contracting or modifying such Treaties on behalf of Her Majesty, whether provisionally or otherwise, is one which primá facie belongs to the diplomatic representatives of Her Majesty. The proposed Treaty therefore, if not also the Memorandum of Agreement, was in excess of the powers hitherto vested in you. Probably it was also in excess of the authority vested in the Raja of Quedah, and he was, I should think, on this ground, justified in refusing to sign it without communication with Siam; independently of the suspicions which might not very un- naturally rise in his mind, on having presented to him a document, which both in form and substance extended considerably beyond what he had agreed to. Under these circum- stances, it follows that I am unable to approve your conduct in continuing that stoppage of the Raja's pension which Colonel Cavenagh had commenced, and the Government of Jadia, with some reluctance, had approved. And I wish you to pay him at once what is due to him on this account, explaining that this is done by you, with the consent of Her Majesty's Government, in the confidence that he will not interpose any difficulties in the settlement of the question, if the terms are approved by the King of Siam.

You will perceive in one of the letters addressed by my direction to the Foreign Office on the 17th March, some observations on the details of the Agreement and Draft Treaty,

and you will also perceive that Her Majesty's Government are taking steps to give effect

to the arrangement which you endeavoured to conclude.

From another letter to the Foreign Office of the same date, and from the answer which I have received, you will understand what is the position which Her Majesty's Government desire you to occupy with regard to European and Native Powers in your neighbourhood.

You will see that your relations with the Dutch Settlements in the neighbourhood will differ little from those which subsist between the Governors of other British Colonies, such as British Guiana, Gambia, or the Gold Coast and their civilized neighbours. I have only to draw your attention to the cautions on this head which are contained in Mr. Egerton's letter of the 25th March.

With regard to Native Powers, you will possess a larger authority.

But you will remember that the relations of the Settlements with those powers are matters which may at any time become of serious importance, and in respect of which Her Majesty's Government are bound to exercise a vigilant and effective control.

Although, therefore, circumstances may not unfrequently arise in which you may be called on to act absolutely on your own judgment, yet it is generally undesirable that you should enter into formal negotiations with native Princes; still less that you should conclude any agreement with them except in pursuance of an object, or a policy considered and approved by Her Majesty's Government. I need hardly add that any such agreement should be strictly provisional, should be effected in your own name, and not in that of the Queen, and must be clearly understood to remain liable to be disallowed by Her Majesty, until embodied in a formal Treaty by Her authority.

I have, &c.

Governor H. St. George Ord, C.B.,

&c,

&c.

&c.

(Signed) BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS.

Note. Then follow the undermentioned despatches which will be found printed in their proper places.

'The Earl of Kimberley to Sir A. Clarke, October 22 and December 22, 1873.