CO882-(2-3) — Page 671

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

882

3ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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9. Of Sunghie Ujong and Rambow, it may be said that they have been always troublesome neighbours, and if the former has, as seems certain, taken part in the recent resistance offered to us in that country, no consideration need be shown to it. The small territory of Johole adjoining Rambow would have to be included with it.

10. We should then find ourselves the rulers, and answerable for the proper govern- ment of the western side of the Peninsula, from Muar (the residence of Sultan Ali), which liea between Johore and Malacca, to Quedah, which is north of Province Wellesley, our boundary, towards the interior, being the East Coast States, Pabang, Tringanu, Kalantan, and Patani.

11. Such a position could only be maintained at great cost. It would involve the pensioning of all the rulers and principal Chiefs, of these countries, and in the first instance also of providing for the support of their numerous followers, who, unaccustomed to earn their living by honest labour, would prove serious obstacles to the maintenance of order, unless they were to a considerable extent subsidised by us. It is not possible to give any idea of the outlay which this would entail, but if their pensions were to be fixed at anything like the amount they now extort from their people, it is clear they would absorb almost all the revenue at present drawn from the country, leaving very little available for the upkeep of the large establishments, which the requirements of a civilised Government demand.

12. It seems to he assumed that the development of the country under civilised rule would speedily produce revenue sufficient for the support of its administration. If there were any certainty of the existence of great undeveloped mineral wealth in the country, no doubt this might be expected, the Chinese, on being assured of protection, would speedily come forward to open the mines, and from the royalty which we should have a right to claim, as well as from the excise duty on opium and spirits consumed by the labourers, a large revenue eventually would be forthcoming, but there is no certainty that in any part of the country, whose annexation is being considered, such resources exist. The existing mines in Larut, Perak, and Salangore are the property of individuals, from whom we have no right to take them, and the profits now derived from them, by the rulers of the country, if appropriated by us, would, as has been said, be swallowed up by the cost of their maintenance. In the purely agricultural part of the country, but little revenue would be obtained from such a share of his produce as we should be justified in claiming from the labourer. Later on the complete establishment of security for their lives and property would doubtless tempt Chinese labourers to plant Gambier pepper, &c., as they are doing in Johore; but some years must elapse before any considerable revenue would be available from this source.

13. What, with additional troops, police, judges, magistrates, revenue collectors, and others, with the provision of houses, roads, and bridges for their accommodation and use, it must be evident that the cost entailed by the annexation of this strip of country, containing probably about 10,000 square miles, would be such as could only be met by aid from without. If the Straits Colony were called upon to furnish this assistance fresh taxation would be required, which could not with any justice be added to the burden already borne by the native population, and would not certainly be willingly assumed by the mercantile community, anxious as they are to see fresh commercial fields opened

out to them.

14. It may be thought that too much stress has been laid upon the question of cost, and that if the result of the annexation of this native territory would be to substitute in

■ short time civilised rule and respect for life and property, with an increase in its material prosperity, for the barbarism, anarchy, recklessness, and poverty which are now its pro- minent features, no question of expense should be suffered to stand in the way of such a measure. But all our knowledge of Malay character and habits assures us that this is not to be expected. It would be long before they would learn to accept quietly the restraints imposed on them by our rule, and there would be a bitter and constantly recurring struggle with the dominant power seeking to bring them under the yoke of its civilisation. Moslem fanaticism would also without doubt be invoked against the infidel, and would probably still further increase our difficulty.

15. Still such an annexation as has been contemplated would ultimately prove most beneficial to the country--the question is, is it worth the cost?

16. If it be not, the next question is, would it not be possible to obtain by some other and simpler means all that we are really bound to seek for,—and we will now inquire what this should be?

17. On the 20th December 1875, the Secretary of State addressed a Despatch to Sir A. Clarke, who was then going out as Governor, calling his attention to certain Despatches

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which had been received from his predecessor, respecting the condition of the Malay States of the Peninsula. His Lordship remarked, that anarchy prevailed, and appeared to be increasing in some of them; that Her Majesty's Government had no desire to interfere in their internal affairs, but it found it incumbent upon them to employ such influence as they possessed with the native Princes to preserve, if possible, these fertile and productive countries from the ruin which must befall them if the present disorder continued un- checked, and with this object, the Governor was instructed to ascertain and report whether any steps could properly be taken by the Colonial Government to promote the restoration peace and order, and to secure protection of trade and commerce. He was also directod to consider whether it would be advisable to appoint British officers as Residents in any of these States.

18. What followed need be but briefly stated. The Chinese, who had been fighting in Larut and committing piracies on our people, finding themselves in great straits from a blockade which had just before been established on their coast, agreed to Sir A, Clarke's offer of mediation, and consented to disarm. Abdullah, who was a claimant to the throne of Perak, finding the Governor willing to recognise him as Sultan, and to restore to him the control of the rich country of Larut, which former Sultans had alienated to the Muntri, readily promised all that was required of him, and a treaty was concluded by which Residents were to be sent to Perak and Larut.

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19. This treaty provided, "that the Resident's advice must be asked and acted upon on all questions other than those relating to Malay religion and customs, and that the "collection and control of all revenue, and the general administration of the country, "must be regulated under the advice of these Residents." Residents were ultimately appointed on similar terms, to Klang, Salangore, and Sunghie Ujong.

20. It was natural that Sir A. Clarke, seeing the readiness with which his terms were agreed to by the natives, should have taken it for granted that they understood what was required of them, and were really prepared to accept our assistance in governing their country according to our views. But a more intimate acquaintance with Malay character would have prevented this misconception. The Malay is essentially slow to receive new impressions, and it is not possible that these people could have realised at once what was expected of them. Possibly had time been taken to explain our object, and to show them that in what we were doing, we were seeking to benefit them and not ourselves, they might have been brought to acquiesce in, or at least not to oppose our proceedings, but they were not prepared to advance at the rapid rate we required, and in Perak, where, owing to the zealous and energetic character of the Resident, the pressure was most severe, a reaction took place which cost Mr. Birch his life.

21. In Larut, Klang, Salangore, and, sa far as is known, in Sunghie Ujong, a certain amount of success would seem to have attended our efforts to assist the Rajahs in intro- ducing the elements of civilisation into the administration of their affairs, any dissatis- faction that may have been felt at our interference has not been outwardly manifested, nor is it likely that it will be after the exhibition of our power which has been witnessed by them in Perak.

22. It is clear that in undertaking to prescribe to the rulers of these countries how they shall govern them, we have assumed a responsibility in excess of that which the Secretary of State originally contemplated, and it is submitted, far beyond anything which our position calls upon us to undertake. According to the instructions which have been quoted the restoration of peace and order was to be our first object-our second, the securing protection to trade and commerce within the native territory while if the presence of Residents in the native States, at the expense of the Colony, was calculated to further these ends, it was to be sanctioned. The restoration of peace and order may be looked upon as on the eve of being effected, the Residents have been appointed, and have no doubt, amongst the multiplicity of matters to which they have been required to attend, done their best to promote the security of trade, and it only remains so to modify their instructions that this shall be in future their chief duty to secure to us all for which we originally contended, and which it may be affirmed, is all that it is necessary for us to seek.

23. With this view the Residents should be instructed that whilst it will be always open to them to proffer advice to the Rajahs respecting the administration of their governments, yet bearing in mind how unpalatable such advice must often be, and that we have no intention of enforcing its adoption, great discrimination will be necessary in exercising this privilege. When the question is the safety of the lives and property of persons other than natives of the country (on whose behalf it would not be expedient that they should interfere) they should be encouraged to speak with the greatest boldness, and

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

السليلا

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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