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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TTICO. 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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also been urged that our army is not to be kept for the purpose of preserving peace in sem-civilized or barbarous States but that the responsibility must rest on the constituted

uthorities

}

97 It these Malayan States were not immediately upon our borders, if the

preserva. tion of the peace within those States were not of vital importance to the interests of our own Settlements and to the maintenance of peace and good order therein, if we had assumed responsibility connected therewith, I might, with perfect consistency with the views I hold!, advise your Lordship that the proper course to pursue would be a policy of non- interference. But, intimately connected as we are with them, that policy has never been pursued, and there has always been in a greater or less degree an intimate relationship between ourselves and the States in the neighbourhood of these Settlements.

98. Looking at the close relationship which we have been obliged to assume in respect to these States, especially since we have actively intervened in their affairs, I submit that the true policy to adopt, not only with regard to Perak but also with respect to the other States in our neighbourhood and under our protection, is to look forward to the time when the annexation of some of them will probably become a necessity. That period should be postponed as long as possible, but we should be prepared to assume the responsibility whenever it becomes absolutely necessary to do so in order to secure peace and good government.

We

99. Upon considering the progress of recent events in Perak, and the arguments stated in paragraph 95 of this Despatch, I have arrived at the conclusion that the time has come when it would be advisable to declare Perak a portion of Her Majesty's Dominions. already occupy the country, and the people are rapidly returning to their homes. When, moreover, we have opened up communications from the sea coast to the Perak River and to Kinta, and when a well organised and disciplined police force has been raised and taken the place of the military force now in occupation, I should, with the aid of a small body of troops for an emergency, have no fear about carrying on the Government or of a rising against us. The police force should of course be well officered and provided with a

ufficient number of reliable non-commissioned officers.

100. It may be said that the occupation of Perak would be attended with expense without any adequate return, and that it would therefore be unwise to occupy it. Doubt- less Perak is now covered with jungle, but its present aspect is no criterion of its powers

of production.

Laroot, at present the most thickly populated portion of the State, already yielda a revenue of $20,000 a month, the import and export farms at the mouth of the Perak River were recently let for 87,000 a month, so that, without any scheme of taxation, except royalty on minerals and taxes on the imports and exports, Perak even now raises a revenue of over $300,000 per annum. This will be sufficient to cover any allowances to Chiefs that may be determined upon, and the cost of the necessary establishments, and still leave a balance for opening up roads and communications and for the payment of interest on debt.

101. There is every prospect that the revenue would considerably increase if the country became a British possession, I am assured by influential and wealthy Chinamen that, if Perak were under British rule, swarms of industrious Chinese would flock in, and these, with the Chinese and British capital which would soon be invested in the State, would completely change the face of the country. Province Wellesley was once a jungle, it is now covered with fine plantations, employing many thousands of Indian, Chinese, and other Coolies. The agricultural and mineral wealth of Perak is very great, and with the certain introduction of immigration and Coolie labour, the Malays would soon be out- numbered and all difficulties respecting them would cease.

102. I trust that nothing I have written in this Despatch will lead your Lordship to believe that I do not entertain the highest respect for the views which your Lordship has expressed. I have felt it my duty, however, to explain that many of the conclusions, ap- parently arrived at by your Lordship, have been based on an imperfect acquaintance with facts, and without realizing the difficulties of the position in which I have been placed.

If, in doing so, I have appeared at all to step beyond proper bounds, I trust your Lordship will take into account the fact, that your Lordship has expressed very strong opinions, for the special purpose of eliciting explanations from me with respect to the course which I felt it my duty to adopt in the matter now under consideration.

I have, &c.

(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,

&c.

&c.

Colonial Office.

&c.

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Enclosure 1 in No. 1

LETTER found in HA ALL'S Boat at Durian Sabatang.

several people, whose names are not No date.)

(This is a draft letter apparently coming from mentioned, to Mr. Birch, late Resident of Perak.

*

"

Kuasa" (written authority) over this

י*

We inquire about our friends having got a Country of Perak, to become Resident and govern Perak, collecting all the taxes of the Country From whom did our friend got that Kuasa "? Our friend must let us know clearly

If our friend got it from Raja Abdullah, we will in no way accept a ingle clause of it, for Raja Abdullah is not the only "Waris (blood royal) of the country of Perak; there are many other "Waris" better than he.

Our friend must first examine all the Waris," whether they like it or not, and they may know what our friend intends to do, in order that our friend may not give orders which shall oppress all the Waris" to whom the country of Perak belongs. Moreover, inform the gentlemen in Penang and Singapore and other places that the kingdom For which they have made a Raja is in the hands of us all, the "Waris" of the country Perak, and that, as regards Raja Abdullah whom they installed, we will in no way, any of us, accept him, for it is against (or perhaps "he is outside the pale of") Malay Moreover, the Kuasa which you have received from Raja Ab-

aws and customs.

LL

lullah, we will none of us accept it. If you wish to use force to us, even then we will not accept it, but if it is only that you want the country of Perak, we will in no way resist you, for we none of us wish to fight with you, having no power to do so. There- Fare you must show us plainly what is our fault towards you.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

ABOUT six or seven days after the Governor had gone down the River Perak (ie., about the 21st September 1875), I went of my own accord to Passir Sala. I was then ing in a boat with Sultan Abdullah's people and the Sultan himself, just below Campong Gaja.

I met the Maharaja Lela. He asked me to go into his house, and went. Workmen were then making a strong embankment and stockade round his house. The Maharaja Lela said it was a fence, but I did not believe that; he only said it in fun. I went into his house and had a long talk with him.

"} P I said, He replied,

I said,

"

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C

I said, "What about Perak Datu? He said, "How do you mean Well, there are differences amongst the Chiefs, especially in the Hilir." Yes, but I am different from the others." I said, "Of course I know you are different ; perhaps the Sultan (Abdullah) and the others will follow Mr. Birch." He said, "I don't care what they do, I'll never obey him, I don't care for Sultan Abdullah, but I'll follow Sultan Ismail. If they try and turn me out of this place, I'll fight." I said, "I suppose that's the reason you made that garden fence.” Oh no," he said, and laughed.

If you really will act, surely I'll be with you, but under you." He said, Oh, that's not right; you are a Raja, and used to command.” I said, "Perhaps Salangor, if there was no one else to speak, I might have some power; but here in Perak I have none; I am in your hands." Yes," he said, that's right." I said to him," You say you are different to the other Chiefs; how?" He said, "I'll tell you why." and he went and fetched a written paper, opened, and showed it to me, and said, You see, with this paper I am strong, with these seals to support me; I don't care to join the other Chiefs, who want to follow Mr. Birch.” He showed me the paper; it was written in Malay, and had four chops on it. Three of them I am certain of they were Raja Ismail's, the Mantri's, the Maharaja Lela's; the other was either the hop of the Laxainana or the Panghina Kinta. In the paper it was stated that they four had made a solemn agreement that we will settle matters in Perak, and that we will stand by each other in any event, whether had should come of it or good. Then the Maharaja Lela told me that they had agreed that Raja Ismail should come with all his people down the river to Lambole or Passir Sala, and invite Abdullah to go up and meet him, and that whether he came or not they should all on the 10th of the month Shawal, the month after the Fast, go down to the Residency and say to Mr. Birch, “Do you want to be Resident of Perak ? Because if you do, you must be under the Sultan, not above him, and that Sultan must be Ismail. If he agreed, well and good; if he made any objection, that the flagstaff should be cut down, and then Mr. Birch and every one at the Residency be murdered." I said, “That will be a big affair." He replied, Yes, and that is why we are getting a number of men for it.”

Then I went away. D

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