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Britain's Intervention in Malaya: The Origin of Lord Kimberley's Instructions to Sir Andrew Clarke in 1873

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

D. MacIntyre
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Extract

It is well known that British political control in the Malay States began with the Pangkor agreement of January 1874, which was soon followed by the appointment of the first Resident in Perak. The Earl of Kimberley's famous instructions' of 20 September 1873 have generally been accepted as providing the basis for this new phase in the history of Malaya and of the British empire. Sir Andrew Clarke was told that the conduct of Britain's relations with the Malay States which were not subject to Siamese influence, would be an important part of his duties as governor. Since growing anarchy was injuring trade and British interests generally, the government had to consider whether it could do anything to improve matters in the States. Although the British government had no desire to interfere in the affairs of the Peninsula, said Kimberley, Clarke should inquire into the condition of each state and report any steps which the Straits government could take to restore peace and to protect trade. Kimberley also added the often-quoted words:

“I would wish you especially to consider whether it would be advisable to appoint a British Officer to reside in any of the Malay States. Such an appointment would only be made with the full consent of the native government.…”

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian History , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , October 1961 , pp. 47 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1961

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References

1. Kimberley, to Clarke, 20. ix. 1873.Google Scholar Original draft and fair copy filed after Ord to Kimberley 10. vii. 1873. Colonial Office files, Public Record Office: Straits Settlements correspondence Co/273/67.

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4. Minute by Cox 1. vii. 1867 on India Office to CO 6. vi. 1867. CO/273/15.

5. Ibid. Memo, by Cox 1. vii. 1867 on Larut papers.

6. Draft instructions dated 6. ii. 1867 after Treasury to CO 26. i. 1867. CO/273/16.

7. The recently discovered early Carnarvon papers referring to his periods at the CO in 1858–59 and 1866–67 include a few items concerning the Straits Settlements. The following letter shows that Ord probably requested the post. Adderley to Carnarvon 26. ix. 1866 — “As I expect seeing you I have answered Col Ord to-day merely formally acknowledging etc. I think he would do well for Singapore & so Stanley would say who made his acquaintance with me on the W. Africa Committee last year”. Carnarvon offered Ord the appointment in a letter on 6 October.

8. Minute by Cox 17. ii. 1868 on Ord to Buckingham 31. xii. 1867. Co/273/13.

9. Minute by Buckingham 17. ii. 1868 on Ord to Buckingham 3. i. 1868. Co/273/17.

10. Minute by Rogers 19 ii. 1868 on Ord to Buckingham 31. xii. 1867. Co/273/13.

11. Notes by Stanley and Hammond with CO to FO 17. iii. 1868. Foreign Office files: Siam correspondence FO/69/47 and FO to CO 25. iii. 1868 CO/273/23.

12. Ibid. Draft for Ord 22. iv. 1868 after FO to CO.25. iii. 1868.

13. Ord to Rogers (Private) S. viii. 1867. CO/273/10.

14. Read to CO 9. v. 1868. CO/273/24.

15. Ibid. Minutes by Cox 12th, Buckingham 15th and Adderley 13. v. 1868.

16. Ibid. Minute by Rogers and draft for Ord 20. v. 1868.

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22. Ibid. Minutes by Rogers 20. v. 1868. Parkinson (p. 106) quotes this incorrectly as 1858; Rogers joined the CO in 1859.

23. Note by Hammond 16. v. 1868 on CO to FO 15. v. 1868. FO/69/47.

24. CO to Ord 4. vi. 1868, after despatch cited in fn. 21.

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31. Herbert had been Col. Sec, then, with the grant of responsible government, the Premier of Queensland, and not governor as Parkinson says (p. 106). He no doubt called at the S. S. on his way to or from Australia. “I certainly have been in an hotel at Penang”, he once wrote on Ord to Kimberley 2. ix. 1870. CO/273/39.

32. Minute by K-Hugessen 1. vii. 1871 on Legislative Council Minutes received 28. vi. 1871. CO/273/47.

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36. When Arthur Birch went home in 1872 Penang residents thanked him “for the visits you have paid to the neighbouring Native States and for the friendly correspondence you have opened with them”. “Of wh. however we know nothing”, wrote Cox of the Eastern dept. on Ord, to Kimberley, 11. iv. 1872. CO/273/57.Google Scholar

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38. Ibid. Minute by Cox (despatch received 31. vii. 1871.)

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41. Ibid. 58.

42. Anson, to Kimberley, 19. x. 1871.Google Scholar CO/273/50.

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56. Ord to Kimberley 10. vii. 1872 & Kimberley to Ord 2. ix. 1872. CO/273/58.

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(1) a summary of Irving's memo, of 24. vii. 1872 which was not sent in full until after Pangkor.

(2) Petition of 34 Malacca traders 27. vii. 1872 and J. W. W. Birch's answer re-affirming the policy of non-intervention.

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68. Ibid. Minute by Kimberley 7. vii. 1873. New South Wales correspondence CO/201/569 and 23. vii. 1872 on FO to CO

69. That Kimberley spoke to Campbell in person may be gathered from the record of a conversation on another matter mentioned by Kimberley in a minute on 8. vii. 1873 on Admiralty to CO 27. vii. 1873. CO/273/72.

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79. Memo, by Vivian 25. ii. 1873. Netherlands correspondence FO/37/534; FO to CO 22. iii. 1873. CO/273/73. Herbert began a minute “It is hardly supposed that the U.S. would interfere in the affairs of Acheen”, but he crossed this out.

80. Minute by Rogers 20. vii. 1870 on FO to CO 14. vii. 1870. CO/273/42.

81. Minutes by MacDonald, 19th, Cox 20th, Herbert 21st & K-Hugessen 22. vii. 1873 Google Scholar on Clarke to Herbert 18. vii 1873 CO/275/74.

82. Minutes by K-Hugessen 22. vi. i872 on OAG-NSW to Kimberley 19. iv. 1872 22. vii. 1872. CO/201/571.

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84. Ibid. Memo, by MacDonald, 23. vii. 1873 Google Scholar and Kimberley, 31. vii. 1873.Google Scholar

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86. Ibid. filed after Herbert's minute.

87. Parkinson, 109.Google Scholar Kimberley made this note after his draft of the reply to Seymour Clarke 5. viii. 1873. CO/283/74.

88. Minute by Cox 28. viii. 1873 on Ord, to Kimberley, 10. vii. 1873 Google Scholar (received 21. viii. 1873). CO/273/67.

89. Ibid. draft by Kimberley, 31. viii. 1873 (sent to Gladstone 12. ix. 1873).Google Scholar

90. Parkinson, 111.Google Scholar

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92. Minute by MacDonald 11. x. 1873 on Ord to Kimberley, 5. ix. 1873. CO/273/69.Google Scholar

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95. Clarke did not, like Wolseley, advocated a British expedition; he also wished to hand the government back to Africans after the war. In Malaya too, as compared with Jervois, Clarke was a supporter of limited intervention.

96. See Moneypenny, W. F. & Buckle, G. E. The Life of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, London (revised edition in 2 vol.) 1929. Vol. II, Part 6.Google Scholar

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98. I must acknowledge the criticism and advice received from Dr. C. D. Cowan of the School of Oriental & African Studies, with whom I discussed the ideas contained in this article.