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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE Reference :---

C.O. 882

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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"had an opportunity of personally observing the condition of affairs, and of becoming

acquainted with the Chiefs who represent the different interests which prevail in that--- "State, the relations between the adviser and the advised have been unsatisfactory from the very commencement. Whilst Her Majesty's Government hold the Chiefs re- sponsible for keeping the engagements entered into by them with the British Govern- "ment, there is scarcely any one of those engagements referred to which has not been "violated by them. The Resident's advice is disregarded, and he must consequently "either passively look on, whilst acts are committed which he disapproves but cannot control, or he must assume to himself a power which is inconsistent with his position as "adviser, thus practically taking upon himself the Government of the State, so far as the "opposition of Rajabs and Chiefs will permit him to do so. The result is eminently "unsatisfactory to all concerned."

I trust, gentlemen, that I have been able to show you that the Residential system, valuable as it has been, as a means of establishing closer relations with, and extending our influence in the Native States under our protection, does not meet the requirements necessary for maintaining a permanent security and a settled form of government. There are many faults inherent in the system itself, which answers only when perfect harmony exists between the adviser and the advised; but then, as I have shown you, the former practically takes the administration of the country into bis own hands. But in this case, a system of advice gives way to a system of control, so that it is but a practical and logical view of the situation to recognise that some such system of control should be introduced, and that the profession of one policy should not cover the working of another. Upon reviewing the whole situation, both generally and in detail, I felt that the best course to adopt would be for me to personally visit Perak, and, after making acquaint. ance with the people and chiefs, and obtaining knowledge of their wishes and opinions, to draw a conclusion as to the best course to be adopted to meet the requirements of the State, and at the same time to seek to promote the welfare and prosperity of the Straits Settlements, by the establishment of such a policy as would guarantee security of life and property, and encourage trade and immigration.

A personal visit by the Governor was, moreover, most desirable at the time I went to Perak, on account of my having been informed that some of the chiefs there had ex- pressed a wish that we should undertake the government of the State.

I commenced my tour in Laroot, crossed on elephants to Qualla Kangsa, on the Perak River, and descended that river in boats, visiting en route the several chiefs of the country. The population of the tin districts of Laroot consists almost exclusively of Chinese, who regard the British Government as virtually the ruling power, and since our intervention, our officers have been able to carry on their affairs and improve their condition without opposition or interference from the Perak chiefs. At Qualla Kangsa I met the Rajah Bandahara Oosman, second in succession to the throne of Perak, and at Sengang, the next point of call down the river, the Rajah Muda Yusuf, heir-presump tive to the throne. The former is a great opium-smoker, and can hardly be accounted responsible for his actions. The latter, on the other hand, possesses activity and energy quite peculiar in a Malay, and both in bearing and intelligence he outstrips the other Perak chiefs.

I had previously been told that he wished the British Government to take over the management of the affairs of the country, and I found that this information was correct. He expressed his opinion that there was no other way to put an end to the divided state of Perak, and the unsettled condition of its affairs. At Blanja, still farther down the river, I met ex-Sultan Ismail. The conclusion which I arrived at from the result of my interview with him was, that although personally attached to the British Government, he is in the hands of the Mantri and other minor Chiefs about him, through whose instru- mentality he was once raised to the throne, and that he does not dare to express an opinion of his own for fear of offending them. He acknowledged that the country was in a very unsctiled state, and that no progress was being made towards its improvement, and he sent me a letter proposing that he should govern the country with the assistance of a Resident. I told him that I could not entertain this proposal. Of course, it would have been, in any case, absurd to do so. We had deposed Ismail and put up Abdullah, and it would be absurd now to depose Abdullah and put up Ismail.

My impression is, that now there is a division among the chiefs of the Ulu,-Yusuf, upon whose support he has hitherto greatly depended, having expressed a desire to live under British rule, and Rajah Dris, the heir-presumptive to the Bandaharaship,-Rajah Ngah, his own relation, and many others upon whom he has hitherto greatly relied, having adopted the same course, that Ismail will in time fall in with their views, and Í would propose to treat him with every consideration.

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I first met Sultan Abdullah at Campong Gaja, and had a formal interview with him at Bandar Bahru, further down the river, and the seat of the Residency. I told him that he had violated the engagements entered into by him, and disregarded the warning set forth in the Proclamation holding the engagements inviolable. I pointed out to him the evils connected with the system of debt-slavery as practised in Perak; that the present situation was detrimental to the development of his country and calculated to lead to disturbances; and that interested as the British Government is, by the neighbourhood of Penang to Perak, in obtaining a settled condition of affairs in that State, in the progress made in its development, and in the welfare of its inhabitants, that we felt ourselves bound to interfere to bring about a better state of things in Perak. Ismail and the Ulu Chiefs, to whom I had previously spoken in the same strain, acknowledged the truth of my observations, and considered that no improvement could take place without the assistance of the British Government. I found that the representations made with respect to Abdullah'a character, so far as I was capable of judging, had not been exag- gerated. His imbecility and want of character were manifest at every turn. I proposed to him that British officers should undertake the government of the coantry, and that Le and other chiefs entitled to payment by the State should receive allowances from the revenues of Perak, and he promised to consider this suggestion. I believe that by this course the affairs of Perak would be put on a satisfactory footing, and that an end would be put to the rivalry of parties, both of whom would be treated with equal consideration and equal justice. A good government, and one which would meet the wishes of the Perak people, was a necessity, and as Abdullah had been recognised by us as Sultan, and as I wished to give him a fair trial of the promises of amendment which he had made to me, I determined, if he would consent, to adopt a policy of ruling the State in his name. Under the proposed policy, British officers will hold in their hands the control of the revenues, the imposition or removal of taxes, the appointment of officials, the superinten- dence of the police, the establishment of new stations, the formation of new roads and communications, in fact everything connected with the administration of the country. In a word, then, my proposal ię to govern the country, in the name of the Sultan, by British officers, to be styled Queen's Commissioners, aided by a Malay Council. The Council will consist of the Chiefs of the blood-royal of Perak, who will thus be given a voice in the administration of the country, and an interest therein which they have not hitherto experienced. It will contain representatives of all parties, will sit at stated times with the Commissioners, and will consider plans for the development and improve- ment of the country. My officers have already, by my direction, consulted with Rajah Yusuf and Rajah Dris, with reference to the raising of the revenue of the country.

Gentlemen, I am happy to inform you that the scheme which I have just explained to you, so far as it has gone, is being successfuly proceeded with. Upon leaving Perak, I instructed Mr. Birch and Mr. Swettenham to await the reply to my proposal, which Abdullah promised to send in 12 days. Soon after my departure, Rajabs Yusuf and Dris handed to these officers a letter for me, begging me to take measures to give complete assistance to Perak and to govern Perak. Upon receipt of this letter I wrote to Abdullah, reiterating the statements which I had personally made to him as regards his conduct and the state of his country, and proposing to him that, whilst he retained the Sultanship, British officers should govern the country in his name, and be assisted in their plans and deliberations by a Malay Council. Before my letter reached Abdullah,^ he had written a similar letter to that addressed to me by Rajaha Yusuf and Dris, with an additional request that he should continue to be Sultan-a request quite compatible with the terms of my letter to him. In reply to that letter, Abdullah has acquiesced in my proposals, and has handed over the administration of the affairs of Perak to British officers acting in his name; and to give weight to this reply, he has issued two proclamations, copies of which I now place upon the table. In order to bring the new policy into operation with as little delay as possible, I issued, on the 15th instant, a proclamation, which, gentlemen, you have all doubtless perused.

Since the proclamation was published here, I have received a letter from Mr. Birch, dated the 13th inst., from which I take the following extracts:—

1. "Several of the Rajahs have signed a paper, similar to the one given you by Yusuf and Dris."

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Nothing can exceed the general good feeling, and this Yusuf and Dris do all they can to forter."

3. "Everything is perfectly quiet."

4." Yusuf is most confident that he can bring in Tamail."

5. "Your Excellency's visit has done an immense amount of good, and the people are only waiting for your proclamation.”

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