CO882-(3-4) — Page 117

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.

882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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Presented by command of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to Rajah Mahmud bin Panglima, Rajah of Salangor, in recognition of his gallantry and good service to the British Government in Perak in the year 1875.

Presented by command of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to Syed Mashor bin Mahomed Albaksan, of Salangor, recognition of his services to the British Govern. ment in Perak in the year 1875.

Presented by command of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to Rajah Asul, of Mandeling, in the country of Sumatra, in recognition of his services to the British Government in Perak in the year 1875.

Presented by command of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to Rajah Indut bin Zunus, of Bernam, in recognition of his services to the British Government in Perak in the year 1875.

Presented by command of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to Rajah Ontib, of Kota Pinang, in the country of Sumatra, in recognition of his services to the British Govern- ment in Perak in the year 1875.

No. 12.

GOVERNOR SIR W. F. D. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF

(No. 186.)

MY LORD,

CARNARVON.

(Received June 5, 1876.)

Government House, Singapore, April 27, 1876.

I HAVE the honour to request your Lordship's attention to the arrangement which at present exists with respect to the command of Her Majesty's troops in the Straits Settlements, and in the Malayan Peninsula.

2. These troops are under the command of a Major-General in Hong Kong, who, as a rule, visits this Colony twice a year for the ordinary half-yearly inspections. At all other times, except on such a special occasion as the recent military operations, the local command is exercised by a Commandant who is the Senior Military Officer in the Colony, and who is stationed at Singapore.

3. In case of any circumstances arising which may, in my judgment, require an alteration in the distribution of the force in these Settlements or in the Malay States, I discuss the matter with the Commandant. Your Lordship will, however, observe from the enclosed letter, dated Hong Kong, 12th of April, that the Major-General of Hong Kong claims that I shall correspond with him on these matters.

4. Owing to special circumstances connected with the recent operations in the Malay Peninsula, I have hitherto been enabled to report that the Major-General has cordially co-operated with me. The special circumstances to which I refer are, that in con- sequence of the Major-General determining to accompany oue section of the three forces lately employed in the Malay Peninsula, viz., that which advanced up to the Perak River, he was necessarily for some time out of reach of communication with the other two sections of the forces, and was consequently cut off from any participation in the direction of the Indian troops on their arrival here, or of the operations which I found it necessary to undertake in the States near Malacca, at a distance of about 150 miles from the body moving up the Perak River.

5. The general direction of the military proceedings, therefore, devolved upon me, and I placed myself at Penang as being the spot from whence I could most easily com- municate with the several different sections of the forces. Major-General returned to Hong Kong whilst the force from India was still in I may add, that as the the Malay Straits, the arrangements respecting the departure of that force devolved upon me.

6. In carrying out the distribution of troops after the Indian force had left the Malay Peninsula, I arranged matters as far as possible with the Commandant here. The Commandant, however, being under the orders of the Major-General in China, had to submit the proposed arrangements to Hong Kong, and I need scarcely say that such reference to an officer in China is in many respects very disadvantageous.

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7. Of course when it appears to me, in consequence of any information which I may have received, that a fresh distribution of troops should at once be made in any particular quarter, I take upon myself the responsibility (under Clause 11 of the Golonial Regula- tions) of directing that such alteration shall be made. But as your Lordship will see on a perusal of the letter dated 12th instant from the Major-General in Hong Kong (Enclosure 1), and my reply thereto dated 22nd instant, such action on my part may lead to disagreeable correspondence between the Major-General and myself.

8. Your Lordship will no doubt admit that it is out of the question for the Governor here to undertake to satisfy a military authority in China as to the reasons why any particular movement of troops may, at any particular time, be in his judgment necessary in the Malay Peninsula. Nor indeed would it, under present circumstances, be practicable for the Governor here to conduct the affairs for which he is held responsible, unless the chief military authority consents to act in subordination to him with respect to military movements or operations.

9. I need scarcely point out to your Lordship that the regulations which define the relations between the Governor and the officer commanding the troops are not framed with this view. Directly military operations have to be undertaken, the officer com- manding the troops may, if he so pleases, act in entire independence of the Governor, The position of the Governor with respect to troops employed in the Malay States quite peculiar and not provided for by any regulation. I submit that in these depen- dencies, the power of the military authority to act independently of the Governor might lead to great difficulties in the conduct of affairs. For instance, take the recent case in which the Major-General complains of Her Majesty's troops being unnecessarily harassed. I get intelligence of a partial rising in some states in the neighbourhood of Malacca. By sending some troops with as little delay as possible to occupy certain positions, I know that such rising will be nipped in the bud, and order restored. It would, however, under existing regulations, be in the power of the officer commanding to say that the case is one of dealing with a foreign enemy, and that it does not come under the head which gives the Governor the power of directing the distribution of troops in the Colony. If such a position were insisted upon by the officer commanding, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for the Governor here to be responsible for the maintenance of peace and order in the States with which we are more or less concerned.

10. There is another difficulty which might arise under present circumstances, from the existence of a divided authority, in the conduct of military affairs here. The Governor may have, as I have had in several cases, armed bodies of friendly Malays or of other irregular forces at his disposal and under his control. In one instance, a body of about 100 irregulars which I had raised and sent to Sunghy Ujong mainly contributed to the first success which led to the ultimate defeat of the enemy which had invaded that state. It is, of course, most desirable that there should be no conflict of authority in the employment of the regular forces, and such bodies as those to which I refer.

11. The political circumstances at the present time as regards our position in the Malay States, and the nature of military operations that might possibly have to be undertaken, sometimes with irregulars, sometimes with regular forces; these and other considerations all point to the desirability, I think, necessity, of having the functions of Governor and officer in command of the troops in these settlements and dependencies united, at all events for some time to come, in one person.

12. Should it be determined to adopt this proposal, I should be prepared if called upon, to undertake the joint duties. I beg, however, that your Lordship will understand that I do not put this matter forward as a question personal to myself, but solely on the ground that, under present circumstances, I am strongly persuaded that the Governor, whose business it is to be accurately acquainted with the political circumstances of the Malay Peninsula from time to time, and with the attitude towards the British Government of the several chiefs and their followers, is, or ought to be, if he be a military man of experience, the person best able to judge, when, where, and in what degree and manner, the employment of troops or other forces in the Malay Peninsula is necessary or desirable.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,

&c,

&c. Colonial Office.

&c.

WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.