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Reference -
mikumi C.O.882/12
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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eventuates I shall speak to the Prince very seriously upon his arrival in Colombo, and inform him that unless he makes a serious effort to live a decent life I shall be compelled to report to his father that I consider him unfit to succeed to the throne.
24. This despatch is, I fear, of inordinate length, but I feel that I must add a few general observations before I conclude it. I am definitely of the opinion that the less the Maldivians have to do with the outside world the better for them They are a happy, prosperous, and moral people, and crime is practically unknown. Venereal disease does not exist except in Malé itself, where it is unfortunately common, the infection having been introduced by islanders who have succumbed to the temptations of Indian ports. Increased contact with civilization is bound to come, and is also I fear, bound to have unfortunate results. But these can be mitigated by a strong and wise Government which will prevent the Indian merchant from exploiting the people and the Government unduly. This exploitation is going on at the moment, but resentment against it is growing, and the greater the number of educated and intelligent Maldivians who take a part in public affairs, the more likely is it to be remedied. The present virtual dictatorship of the Prime Minister is definitely favourable to it. There are plenty of intelligent men capable of taking part in the Administration and I can only hope that my visit will have encouraged them to insist on doing so. The revenue of the Islands, which is estimated at about 7 lakhs of rupees, and could easily be increased, is ample for their needs, and, unless diverted to individual pockets, should be quite sufficient to enable the Government to undertake new works, such as a hospital, the purchase of a steamer and a wireless set, &c., and to make possible useful experiments in agriculture and afforestation. The greater the number of officials who share the responsibility for the financial administration the less becomes the danger of the revenues being misappropriated. The members of the Royal Family now in Malé are, I fear, weak and effete. But they still, as a family, retain the respect of their excep- tionally law-abiding people, and there is hope for the future in younger members of the family who are being educated abroad, notably in a nephew of the Sultan, aged 17, now being educated in Lucknow, who is said to bear a good moral character.
25. I cannot conclude my despatch without an appreciation of my gratitude to the Naval Commander-in-Chief for placing H.M.S. Enterprise at my disposal, and my especial thanks are due to Captain Phillips, whose unfailing courtesy and kindness made the whole trip an exceedingly enjoyable experience. I should be grateful if Your Lordship would be so good as to convey to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty an expression of my gratitude for their kindness in allowing the trip to be undertaken.
YOUR HIGHNESS,
I have, &c.,
B. H. BOURDILLON, Officer Administering the Government
Enclosure in No 5.
Queen's Cottage,
Nuwara Eliya, 25th January, 1931. As Your Highness is doubtless aware, I am leaving Ceylon on 11th February in order to take up the duties of His Majesty's High Commissioner for South Africa. I regret that I shall not have the opportunity of seeing Your Highness again before I leave, but I will avail myself of this opportunity of bidding you farewell and of con- veying my wishes for the happiness and prosperity of yourself and your subjects.
The Honourable Mr. Bourdillon, C.M.G., my Colonial Secretary, will act as Governor during the interval between my departure and the arrival of my successor, Sir Graeme Thomson. Mr. Bourdillon is anxious to make the acquaintance of Your Highness, and is arranging to visit Malé in one of His Majesty's ships. understand that certain difficulties have recently arisen in regard both to the administration of the Government of the Maldives and to the succession to the throne. Mr. Bourdillon, who has served the British Government for more than ten years in the Kingdom of Iraq, and is therefore well acquainted with the manners and customs of Moslem peoples, will be very ready to discuss these difficulties with Your Highness, Your Highness' Ministers, and representatives of the people. I shall be much obliged if Your Highness will be so good as to cause any necessary arrangements for that purpose to be made. I will inform Your Highness as soon as possible of the date of Mr. Bourdillon's arrival. It will probably be between the 21st of February and the 9th of March, and he expects to be able to spend four days at Malé.
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I trust that Your Highness is in the enjoyment of good health and that you may long continue to rule over your dominions in
peace and prosperity.
His Highness
Muhammad Shamsuddin Iskandar, C.M.G.,
Sultan of the Maldives
YOUR HIGHNESS,
Enclosure 2 in No. 5.
I have, &c.,
H. J. STANLEY,
Governor.
Queen's House, Colombo, 9th February, 1931.
IN continuation of my letter of the 25th January, 1931, I have the honour to inform Your Highness that the Honourable Mr. Bourdillon proposes to leave Colombo for the Maldives in H.M.S Enterprise on 3rd March, 1931. He will arrive at Malé on the morning of the 5th March and leave on the night of the 8th March. I trust that these dates will prove convenient to Your Highness.
His Highness
Muhammad Shamsuddin Iskandar. C.M.G..
Sultan of the Maldives.
+
Enclosure 3 in No. 5. TRANSLATION.
I have, &c.,
H. J. STANLEY,
Governor.
From Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddin Iskandar, Son of Sultan Ibrahim Nuraddin
Iskandar, Sultan of the Maldives.
To His Excellency Sir Herbert Stanley, G.C.M.G., Governor of Ceylon, May his
glory increase.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
We have great pleasure in informing Your Excellency that we are greatly honoured by receiving your missive dated the 25th January, 1931.
We were very pleased to know that Your Excellency is in the enjoyment of good health and in full happiness, and further that Your Excellency is in readiness to leave Ceylon shortly to take up the duties of His Gracious Majesty's High Commissioner for South Africa. We congratulate Your Excellency, and trust (wish) your star of luck would continue to ascend still higher.
We regret that it is not possible for us to meet Your Excellency ere your departure. While trusting that the occasion on which we have met will not be the last occasion on which we will be able to meet, we avail ourselves of this opportunity of bidding you a hearty farewell.
We thank Your Excellency very much for informing us that the Honourable Mr. B. H. Bourdillon, C.M.G., who will act as Governor until the arrival of your successor, Sir Graeme Thomson, will pay a visit to this country. meeting him and to offer him a hearty welcome.
We are looking forward to
The visits of such distinguished gentlemen demonstrate the good will entertained by His Britannic Majesty's Government towards ourselves and our Government; and indicates that you assist in the betterment of the affairs, and the advancement of the welfare of our Sultanate. That assistance will be a great honour to us, and we are glad it will bring with it luck and prosperity to us and our beloved subjects. Your Excellency will be a great pleasure and a profitable gain to us now and in time This,
to come
It is with deep respect that we inform Your Excellency that according to the old custom and the usage of the Maldive Islands it is not considered essential for every Sultan to nominate a successor to this throne, and to appoint him Crown Prince. Most Sultans did not indulge in this practice. This is not a hidden fact. According to the custom, after the death of one Sultan the throne passes on to his eldest son, in most cases succession to the throne had been in this way, provided the Prince was suitable to sit on the throne and the nobles and the subjects agree in his appointment.
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