the anglo-dutch treaty (1824)

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Anglo-Dutch Anglo-Dutch Treaty of Treaty of

18241824

Overview

Reasons for Signing

Terms of the Treaty

Effects of the Treaty

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OverviewOverview

The treaty was signed between the The treaty was signed between the British and the Dutch GovernmentsBritish and the Dutch Governments

Intended to remove all outstanding Intended to remove all outstanding disputes and friction between their disputes and friction between their commercial agents in the Eastcommercial agents in the East

An imaginary line was drawn through An imaginary line was drawn through the Straits of Malacca and south of the Straits of Malacca and south of SingaporeSingapore

Divided SEA into 2 spheres of influenceDivided SEA into 2 spheres of influence

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Reasons for SigningReasons for Signing

1.1. Anglo-Dutch Rivalry over Anglo-Dutch Rivalry over Trade in Trade in the Eastthe East

– Treaty aimed at removing prevailing Treaty aimed at removing prevailing commercial rivalrycommercial rivalry

– Both were striving to control trade in SEABoth were striving to control trade in SEA– This led to friction, discrimination and This led to friction, discrimination and

rivalryrivalry– Dutch policy of trade monopoly vs British Dutch policy of trade monopoly vs British

belief in free trade aggravated situationbelief in free trade aggravated situation

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2.2. Question of SingaporeQuestion of Singapore

– Friction peaked with the founding of Friction peaked with the founding of Singapore by RafflesSingapore by Raffles

– Singapore proved its worth in a short Singapore proved its worth in a short timetime

– With its strategic position and free port With its strategic position and free port status, S’pore diverted much trade from status, S’pore diverted much trade from Dutch ports Dutch ports (Pontianak, Sambas, Sukadana, Batavia)(Pontianak, Sambas, Sukadana, Batavia)

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2.2. Question of SingaporeQuestion of Singapore

– Dutch began to make claims to SingaporeDutch began to make claims to Singapore– Their argument : Singapore legally Their argument : Singapore legally

belonged to the Pro-Dutch Ruler, Sultan belonged to the Pro-Dutch Ruler, Sultan Abdul RahmanAbdul Rahman

– Thus Raffles had no right to make a Thus Raffles had no right to make a settlement theresettlement there

– Britain not prepared to give up SingaporeBritain not prepared to give up Singapore

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3.3. British Policy of Friendship British Policy of Friendship with the Dutchwith the Dutch

– To counter French expansion in EuropeTo counter French expansion in Europe– Both were not prepared to declare war Both were not prepared to declare war

on each other for political and financial on each other for political and financial reasonsreasons

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Reasons for SigningReasons for Signing3.3. British Policy of Friendship British Policy of Friendship

with the Dutchwith the Dutch

BRITAINBRITAIN– Holland was a vital line of defence Holland was a vital line of defence – A stepping stone for French military A stepping stone for French military

operations against Britain in the Napoleonic operations against Britain in the Napoleonic Wars Wars (1793-1815)(1793-1815)

– To prevent the French from doing so again, To prevent the French from doing so again, Britain had to obtain Dutch support against Britain had to obtain Dutch support against the Frenchthe French

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Reasons for SigningReasons for Signing3.3. British Policy of Friendship British Policy of Friendship

with the Dutchwith the Dutch

HOLLANDHOLLAND– Owed Britain a huge debt; borrowed heavily Owed Britain a huge debt; borrowed heavily

from Britain during the warfrom Britain during the war– Anxious not to antagonize the BritishAnxious not to antagonize the British– Thus requested Britain to open negotiations Thus requested Britain to open negotiations

to settle outstanding disputes to settle outstanding disputes – Also to maintain Anglo-Dutch unity in EuropeAlso to maintain Anglo-Dutch unity in Europe

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Terms of the TreatyTerms of the Treaty

1.1. TERRITORIAL TERMSTERRITORIAL TERMS

HOLLANDHOLLAND– CedeCede to Britain all Dutch factories in India to Britain all Dutch factories in India– Withdraw objections to British occupation of Withdraw objections to British occupation of

SingaporeSingapore– Give Give MalaccaMalacca and all her dependencies to and all her dependencies to

BritainBritain– No establishments or treatiesNo establishments or treaties in the Malaya in the Malaya

PeninsularPeninsular

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BRITAINBRITAIN– Cede Cede to Holland Bencoolen and all EIC to Holland Bencoolen and all EIC

possessions in Sumatrapossessions in Sumatra– No British settlements or treatiesNo British settlements or treaties in in

• the Carimun Islandsthe Carimun Islands• the Rhio-Lingga Archipelagothe Rhio-Lingga Archipelago• any other islands south of the Straits of any other islands south of the Straits of

SingaporeSingapore

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Both agreed not to interfere in the Both agreed not to interfere in the affairs of each other’s sphere’s of affairs of each other’s sphere’s of influenceinfluence

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2.2. COMMERCIAL TERMSCOMMERCIAL TERMS

– Holland was allowed Holland was allowed trade monopolytrade monopoly of of the Moluccas but not of the Malay the Moluccas but not of the Malay Archipelago as a wholeArchipelago as a whole

– Holland was not to Holland was not to discriminatediscriminate unfairly unfairly against British tradeagainst British trade

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2.2. COMMERCIAL TERMSCOMMERCIAL TERMS

– Dutch monopoly Dutch monopoly Tin TreatiesTin Treaties with Perak with Perak and Selangor to lapseand Selangor to lapse

– Each to grant the other “Each to grant the other “most-favoured most-favoured nationnation” treatment in India, Ceylon and ” treatment in India, Ceylon and the Archipelagothe Archipelago

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3.3. OTHER TERMSOTHER TERMS

Both agreed to co-operate in the Both agreed to co-operate in the suppression of suppression of piracypiracy

Holland to pay Britain Holland to pay Britain £100,000£100,000 in full in full settlement of all outstanding claimssettlement of all outstanding claims

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Effects of the TreatyEffects of the Treaty

1.1. Anglo-Dutch rivalry did not Anglo-Dutch rivalry did not endend

– Bitter commercial rivalry continuedBitter commercial rivalry continued– Dutch still excluded British traders from Dutch still excluded British traders from

Spice Islands instead of just MoluccasSpice Islands instead of just Moluccas– Continued to impose restrictions and high Continued to impose restrictions and high

taxes on British shipstaxes on British ships– Britain thus accused Holland of not Britain thus accused Holland of not

keeping the terms of the Treatykeeping the terms of the Treaty

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1.1. Anglo-Dutch rivalry did Anglo-Dutch rivalry did not endnot end

– Territorial disputes over Borneo in 1840s Territorial disputes over Borneo in 1840s and 1870sand 1870s

– Only in 1891 was a mutual frontier line Only in 1891 was a mutual frontier line agreed upon between British North agreed upon between British North Borneo and Dutch BorneoBorneo and Dutch Borneo

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2.2. Final Break-up of the Final Break-up of the Johore EmpireJohore Empire

– Final break-up when treaty divided SEA Final break-up when treaty divided SEA into 2 spheres of influenceinto 2 spheres of influence• Sultan Abdul Rahman of Rhio-Lingga : DutchSultan Abdul Rahman of Rhio-Lingga : Dutch• Mainland Johore and S’pore : BritishMainland Johore and S’pore : British

– S’pore separated from mainland Johore S’pore separated from mainland Johore with the Treaty of August 1824with the Treaty of August 1824• Sultan Hussein ceded S’pore to the BritishSultan Hussein ceded S’pore to the British

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3.3. Naning War (1831-1832)Naning War (1831-1832)

– Under the treaty, Britain was given Under the treaty, Britain was given Malacca and all its dependenciesMalacca and all its dependencies

– Britain assumed Naning was a Britain assumed Naning was a dependency of Malacca and proceeded dependency of Malacca and proceeded to bring it under controlto bring it under control

– Abdul Said, Chief of Naning, refused to Abdul Said, Chief of Naning, refused to obey British authority or to pay tributesobey British authority or to pay tributes

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3.3. Naning War (1831-1832)Naning War (1831-1832)

– War erupted in 1831; Britain victoriousWar erupted in 1831; Britain victorious– British suspected Dutch of instigating British suspected Dutch of instigating

the people of Naningthe people of Naning– Britain later found out that Naning was Britain later found out that Naning was

an independent statean independent state– Damage was already doneDamage was already done

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4.4. Changed relations Changed relations between British EIC & Achehbetween British EIC & Acheh

– Before 1824, excellent trading relations Before 1824, excellent trading relations between Britain and Achehbetween Britain and Acheh

– After Treaty, Acheh came under Dutch After Treaty, Acheh came under Dutch sphere of influencesphere of influence

– Britain ceased all diplomatic and Britain ceased all diplomatic and commercial relations with Achehcommercial relations with Acheh

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5.5. Failure to co-operate in Failure to co-operate in suppressing piracysuppressing piracy

– Both failed to keep up to their promises Both failed to keep up to their promises – Too engrossed with their problems in Too engrossed with their problems in

their respective statestheir respective states• DutchDutch : Working the culture system in Java : Working the culture system in Java• Efforts to suppress piracy confined to their Efforts to suppress piracy confined to their

own areasown areas

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5.5. Failure to co-operate in Failure to co-operate in suppressing piracysuppressing piracy

• BritishBritish : Dealing with expansion of Siam in : Dealing with expansion of Siam in the northern Malay states of Kelantan, the northern Malay states of Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah and PerlisTrengganu, Kedah and Perlis

• Inadequate naval forces at their disposalInadequate naval forces at their disposal• EIC unwillingly to incur additional expenses EIC unwillingly to incur additional expenses

on the Straits Settlements for which it on the Straits Settlements for which it received no revenuereceived no revenue

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6.6. Paved the way for British Paved the way for British and Dutch Expansionand Dutch Expansion

– Treaty enabled both to gain a foothold in Treaty enabled both to gain a foothold in their respective spheres of influencetheir respective spheres of influence

– British intervention in the Malay States British intervention in the Malay States began in 1874began in 1874• By 1909, British controlled the whole of MalayaBy 1909, British controlled the whole of Malaya

– Dutch extended influence over all of Dutch extended influence over all of IndonesiaIndonesia

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The Treaty : An The Treaty : An AssessmentAssessment

Despite the friction, the treaty did help to Despite the friction, the treaty did help to strengthen Anglo-Dutch relations in strengthen Anglo-Dutch relations in Europe although there were difficulties Europe although there were difficulties in the Eastin the East

Britain had 3 settlements along the west Britain had 3 settlements along the west coast of Malaya and could protect their coast of Malaya and could protect their China trade; also no longer feared Dutch China trade; also no longer feared Dutch interference in the Malay Archipelagointerference in the Malay Archipelago

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Dutch benefitted greatly as they had a Dutch benefitted greatly as they had a wide area to spread their influence and wide area to spread their influence and increase trade.increase trade.

Although the treaty was signed between Although the treaty was signed between two European powers, it sealed the two European powers, it sealed the destiny of Malaya as a British colony destiny of Malaya as a British colony and Indonesia as a Dutch colony.and Indonesia as a Dutch colony.

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For Malaya, this treaty was to shape the For Malaya, this treaty was to shape the future of the Malay states and usher in future of the Malay states and usher in a period of British domination.a period of British domination.

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“ ……“ ……. A tidying up which can be . A tidying up which can be compared to the regrouping that occurs compared to the regrouping that occurs on a football field after a goal is scored, on a football field after a goal is scored, when the players sort themselves out when the players sort themselves out and go to their respective ends.”and go to their respective ends.”

K.G. TregonningK.G. Tregonning

A History of Modern MalayaA History of Modern Malaya

the anglo-dutch treaty (1824)

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