On November 2d, 1875,
Mr. Birch, The British Resident, Who Had Arrived The Evening Before At
The Village Of Passir Salah To Post Up Orders And Proclamations
Announcing That The Whole Kingdom Of Perak Was Henceforth To Be
Governed By English Officers, Was Murdered As He Was Preparing For The
Bath.
On this provocation we entered upon a "little war," Perak became known
in England, and the London press began to ask how it was that colonial
officers were suffered to make conquests and increase Imperial
responsibilities without the sanction of Parliament.
Lord Carnarvon
telegraphed to Singapore that he could not sanction the use of troops
"for annexation or any other large political aims," supplementing his
telegram by a despatch stating that the residential system had been
only sanctioned provisionally, as an experiment, and declaring that the
Government would not keep troops in a country "continuing to possess an
independent jurisdiction, for the purpose of enforcing measures which
the natives did not cheerfully accept."
As the sequel to the war and Mr. Birch's murder, Ismail, who had
retained authority over a part of Perak, was banished to Johore;
Abdullah, the Sultan, and the Mentri of Larut, who was designated as an
"intriguing character," were exiled to the Seychelles, and the Rajah
Muda Yusuf, a prince who, by all accounts, was regarded as exceedingly
obnoxious, was elevated to the regency, Perak at the same time passing
virtually under our rule.
A great mist of passion and prejudice envelops our dealings with the
chiefs and people of this State, both before and after the war.
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