CO882-(2-3) — Page 484

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

गय

Reference:-

C.O. 882

3

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

14

"Before the downfall of the Malayan Empire at Malacca, the trade of the Peninsula was collected in certain depôts; and there was then a recognised Government, which, although low in the scale of civilization, afforded protection to producers, and encouraged traders to visit the ports. The trade remained at Malacca, under the Portuguese, from the beginning of the 16th century, but gradually declined with the authority of the Portuguese in these seas; and, when the Dutch took Malacca in 1641, the evil effects of the system of European nations establishing themselves in the native States, and monopolising the trade of those States, had become visible in the decrease of population, The effect of the establishment of the loss of trade, and the growth of piracy. Europeans in the 17th and 18th century was to destroy the power and prestige of the native Governments; and, as the Europeans did not afford any protection beyond the The people were left without walls of their factories, anarchy and confusion arose. protection for life and property; they were discouraged from agriculture and trade, not only by oppression and enforced monopolies on the part of the Europeans in their neighbourhood, but also from the want of the protection before afforded by their own Governments. Each petty Rajah assumed independence of his former Suzerain; and, in his own district exercised, as far as he could, power, at the expense of the people within his jurisdiction. It was to have been hoped that the establishment of British Colonies in the Malayan Peninsula, at the end of the last and the beginning of the present century, would have been beneficial to the neighbouring native States; and so, perhaps, it was at first; but the Indian Government were early dissatisfied with the result of the Establish- ment at Penang; and soon stringent orders were given to the Local Government not to interfere in the native States on any pretext whatever. The result has been unfortunate, as encouraging the existence, by non-interference, of a state of misgovernment and anarchy difficult to describe, and which might, in a great measure, have been prevented by an intelligent fostering of the existing Native Governments, protecting them not merely from external aggression but also from internal troubles."

have looked into the archives of these Settlements in order to ascertain what really have been the opinions of those who have been answerable for the good order of the whole of the States of the Peninsula, and I find that, until within the last year or two, there is but one instance in which there seems to have been any clear instructions given to the Administration here from the Supreme Government either of Home or of India and that is under the cover of a letter signed by Mr. Cecil Beadon, the present Bir Cecil Beadon, written in November 1856, in reply to a representation as to the condition, to which I shall draw your attention, of the other smaller States near Malacca, and by which the peace of Malacca was then threatened and its trade crippled. Evidently the then Governor had been writing under the restrictions of a policy which no doubt tied his hands, and induced him to think any course other than that of direct interference was But here, for the first time that I can trace it, there the course to be followed. appears to have been a little more determined language, and a clearer instruction to the Government of these Settlements; and it is to certain extent the policy I have acted upon, and which I intend to ask your authority to continue. He says:——

"You state that the trade of Malacca is seriously injured by these exactions. The The traders of Malacca call for protection from Resident Councillor urges action. unauthorized exaction. The Chamber of Commerce supports them. Finally, it is admitted that these exactions could be oneily stopped." This is summing-up of the Resident Councillor's letter.] "It is the opinion of the President in Council that it is the duty of the Government to stop them, and I am accordingly desired to request that you will intimate to the Chiefs that the Government of India will not permit the exaction of unauthorized payments from its traders within their territories. It looks to them, as the responsible rulers, to put an end to such exactions. If the Chiefs have not power to put down the lawless men who make them, the Government of India will aid the Chiefs for that purpose. But the Chiefs must do their duty, by coming with their people to the attack which it may become necessary to make on the stockades." He goes on to say:— "If in consequence of this communication the exactions should cease, it will be well, if these should continue, or should be renewed, force should be used against the offenders. If force should be called for, care should be taken to make it amply sufficient for the purpose. Some naval force may no doubt be got from Singapore, and the means of throwing shells into the stockades should be employed.".

The archives in the Government Offoes have not yet been thoroughly searched, but this the only letter I have seen, as far as the search has gone, which shows any indication of the views of the Indian Government as to what motion should be taken by the Local Government when matters bad come to such extremities as we have suffered under for so many years. In the subsequent correspondence, which I am about to lay on the table,

15

Jou will see in regard to the position of Larut, that Lord Kimberley, in a despatch in consequence, I think, of a representation from the Chinese and other merchants here, writes to me in September 1873 one of my instructions, and even here it is written with

caution.

"The anarchy which prevails and appears to be increasing, in parts of the Peninsula, the consequent injury to trade and British trade generally, render it necessary to consider seriously whether any steps can be taken to improve this condition. You will perceive, from the inclosed correspondence between this office and Mr. Seymour Clarke, that Tunku Dia Oodin, Viceroy of Salangore, is sensible of the evils which exist in that country, and is desirous of obtaining assistance from Her Majesty's Government in order to remedy them, or, failing Her Majesty's Government, from some other European Power. Her Majesty's Government have, it need hardly be said, no desire to interfere in the internal affairs of the Malay States. But, looking to the long and intimate connection between them and the British Government, as shown in the Treaties which have at various times been concluded with them, and to the wellbeing of the British Settlements themselves, Her Majesty's Government find it incumbent upon them to employ such influence as they possess with the native Princes to rescue, if possible, these fertile and productive countries from the ruin which must befal them, if the present disorders continue unchecked."

And now, gentlemen, it is with regard to that very point that I am asking you to employ such influence as you possess. It is for you to inquire whether influence employed at intervals of four or five years, when certain cases arise-whether it is that kind of influence, or whether it is constant influence which should be brought to bear upon these rulers, in order that we should be induced to adopt a practical, safe, and a consistent course, which would bring about the objects we seek. It is not to be done by spasmodic and inconsistent action, but by ourselves taking up a much more decided and more permanent line, in order, to use the language of the noble lord, "to rescue these fertile and productive countries from the min which must befal them if the present disorders continue unchecked."

I will now refer to the smaller States in connection with the Lingie river, with which I have had also to deal. Many of you remember the disorders which took place in Sungie Ujong some years ago, in 1860. Having seen that correspondence, when information came to me that certain stockades were on the Lingie river, stopping trade and preventing supplies, I went there myself, and found that they were due purely to the contentions between the two Pungbulus, or Chiefs, who were fighting for the supremacy of the Lingie river, and that under the cover of these contentions these stockades had been erected. Having satisfied myself, therefore, that these were a pretence, and they were merely placed there for the purpose of stopping passing traffic, although they were armed and very heavily manned the morning we arrived there, the force we took up was sufficient (and it is very important that this should always be the case). We found the position abandoned, and the country has boos ever since tranquil, and trade has been resumed in larger proportions than ever. Subsequently, and it is, I believe, the first instance in the history of these States-the independent Chiefs of Rambow have come, forward and asked the assistance of the Government, and placed their country at our disposal, saying, “Give us people to open up our country; we are quite ready to take your advice and be guided by your influence." Already, two other of the smaller States have done the same, so that I trust that I have shown to the Council that the policy which I have to a certain extent introduced, and the policy which I hope I shall receive your support and authority to continue, will be acceptable to the native Rulers as well as to the native people themselves.

But now let me ask what will be the effect of this policy,—whether, as it no doubt must cause a certain amount of sacrifice, though not very large, on our own part, in its carly commencement, the effect will be commensurate. I think that, apart from the responsibilities, apart from the duties which must attach to us in our very prosence here, in the very middle of semi-civilized nations,apart from that mission which it is our duty to recognise-not simply that of trade, but the higher duties which we, as Englishmen, owe to our flag, and our country, and our Queen, I think the success of the Malays themselves when they come under our influence and our protection, is quito sufficient to justify the course we have adopted, or a stronger and more determined one. If we take the States to which I have already called your attention,--the States under the nominal protection of England, we find that those States have nearly 22,000 square miles almost the area of Ceylon. I think the nearest approach to a consus of the Malays was that given by Colonel Cavenagh in 1881, which, from the information I have obtained since, is far in excess of the number of inhabitants there now. For instance, in Pahang,—

.