Sarawak: correspondence file (chiefly copies), 1925, 1944-1948

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Comprises:

(fols. 1-118) Correspondence between the Colonial Office, the Rajah, Anthony Brooke, and Bertram Brooke, including papers relating to Brooke v. Brooke lawsuit, 1944-1948:

(fols. 1-9) copies of correspondence between the Colonial Office (Oliver Stanley, S/S Col., and J.J. Paskin) and the Rajah and Tuan Muda, about proposed talks concerning future relations between Sarawak and the British Government, and a report to the Rajah by H.A. Aplin on his visit to the Colonial Office in this connection, Jul 1944-28 Jan 1945
(fols. 10-13) copies of letters from Anthony Brooke to Oliver Stanley, with a memorandum on the proposals of the Government of Sarawak for strengthening relations with H.M. Government, 13-27 Feb 1945
(fols. 14-15) cyclostyled copy of letter from Anthony Brooke to the Secretary of State [G.H. Hall], replying to points raised by Stanley in a letter to the Rajah dated 17 Jul, about the international status of Sarawak, 4 Oct 1945
(fols. 16-20) letter and note from Bertram Brooke to the Rajah about the latter's attitude towards Anthony Brooke, the quashing of the title of Rajah Muda, and the Rajah's financial transactions; as well as a note about the cutting off of Anthony's emoluments, and his advice to him to 'do nothing intemperate', 29 Jan and 22 Mar 1946
(fols. 21-31) copies of correspondence between G.H. Hall, S/S Col., and Bertram Brooke, Tuan Muda, about the question of Cession and the wish of the Tuan Muda to visit Sarawak for the purpose of putting his views personally before the people; the Rajah's unconstitutional dismissal of the Provisional Government, 15 Feb-19 Jul 1946
(fols. 32-33) correspondence between the Colonial Office (T.I.K. Lloyd) and Bertram Brooke, about the delivery of a letter from the latter to the Datu Patinggi, 3 Apr 1946
(fols. 34-39) letter from Bertram Brooke to H.M. the King (draft and copy) giving reasons for his hope that Cession should be deferred and an appropriate enquiry instituted as to the legality and propriety of the proposals, 18 Jun 1946
(fols. 40-118 and item 1) papers relating to the case of Bertram Brooke and Anthony Brooke (Plaintiffs) v. Sir Charles Vyner Brooke, James Brooke, Henry Johnson, and the Hon. George Peel (Defendants), in the Court of the Resident, State of Brunei: Brunei Civil Suit No. [1] of 1948. (See also MSS. Pac. s. 83/6, Vols 33 and 34.) The Plaintiffs were concerned to set aside the Cession of Sarawak to the British Crown and questioned also the legality of the transfer of £200,000 from the State funds to the Rajah's private account. Some of the documents are inscribed with the name of Theodore Page, Messrs W.C. Crocker, London, and copies of correspondence between that firm and Messrs Drew & Napier and the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kuching, are included; also extracts from Straits Settlements Law Reports, 1948
(item 1) a printed copy of the Judicial Committee Rules, 1925, 24 pages.

(fols. 119-132) Correspondence with Members of Parliament, 15 Mar-3 Jun 1946, chiefly relating to the visit to Sarawak of Rees-Williams and Gammans and its outcome. Correspondents include:

Patrick Donner, MP
Colonel Rees-Williams, MP
Captain David Gammans, MP
William Teeling, MP
Bertram Brooke
Anthony Brooke
W.C. Crocker
President of the Malay National Union of Sarawak
Heads of Districts in Kuching.

(fols. 133-181) Miscellaneous extracts and memoranda, n.d. and 1946:

(fols. 133-145) 'Extracts from the Letters and Writings of Sir James Brooke, first Rajah of Sarawak', quoted from Gertrude Jacob's The Raja of Sarawak, 1876, n.d.
(fols. 146-147) 'Memorandum' (unsigned) on possible alternatives to Cession, to be negotiated ab novo [sic], n.d.
(fols. 148-152) copy of letter and memorandum from H. Thackwell-Lewis, Chief Legal Officer, to [Anthony] Brooke, giving reasons for his view that the Rajah was unfit to exercise any functions or powers in the State, 27 Feb 1946
(fol. 153) extract from letter from Lt/Colonel W.P.N. Ditmas, Sarawak Civil Service, to his father, about MacBryan's 'bribes' to members of the Supreme Council and his malign influence over the Rajah, 5 Mar 1946
(fol. 154) note referring to statements in the Rajah's letter to the Sunday Times, about forced labour, taxation, and rice land, 17 Mar [1946?]
(fols. 155-159) manuscript notes, by (?) Anthony Brooke and Bertram Brooke, about 'blatant irregularities' leading up to the passing of the Cession Bill, chiefly relating to payments made by MacBryan, n.d.
(fols. 160-177) report on visit to Sarawak by F.H. Pollard, including Analysis of Voting of the Council Negri and note about his talk with Colonel Rees-Williams, MP, n.d.
(fols. 178-180) report on visit to Sarawak by J.R. Combe containing observations on the Council Negri Meeting at which the motion for Cession was carried by three votes, 26 May 1946
(fol. 181) 'Sarawak': unsigned memorandum on the future of the Sarawak Civil Service and administration, 8 Jun 1946.

(fols. 182-198) Press, 12 Feb-[Jun? 1946]:

(fol. 182) copy of letter from Margery Perham to The Times on 'The future of Sarawak', 12 Feb [1946]
(fol. 183) copy of letter from F.F. Boult, former Chief Secretary of Sarawak, to the Sunday Times about the Rajah's letter (see fol. 154), deploring his statements and his action in preventing the Tuan Muda from visiting Sarawak, 21 Mar 1946
(fols. 184-185) letter from F.F. Boult to The Times (two copies) about the composition of the Council Negri, and the visit of the two MPs to make an independent enquiry into the Rajah's proposal, n.d.
(fols. 186-187) letter from N.P. Whiskin to Time & Tide, about indigenous feeling against the Cession of Sarawak, 21 May 1946
(fols. 188-190) extracts from 'Singapore Sequel' by Captain L.D. Gammans, MP, n.d.
(fols. 191-198) statement to the press made by Bertram Brooke before leaving England for Sarawak, and hand-out and text of his address to the press on his return, about the events that led to Cession, n.d. and 31 May 1946.

(fols. 199-269) Cables to and from Sarawak, Nov 1945-26 Jul 1946, dealing with the appointment of MacBryan as the Rajah's representative in Sarawak, money given by him to members of the Supreme Council in return for signatures to documents agreeing to Cession, their misunderstanding of the documents, and subsequent opposition to Cession proposals. Signatories to cables include the following:

Abdillah, A.H., President, Malay National Union of Sarawak
Brooke, Anthony
Brooke, Bertram
Brooke, C.V.
Bryant, Arthur (to Malcolm MacDonald, fol. 245)
Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Crocker, W.C.
Datu Mentri
Datu Hakim
Datu Amar
Datu Pahlawan
Datu Patinggi
Jita, Phillip, President, Dayak Association of Sarawak.

(fols. 270-271) Copy of letter, unsigned, from the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, London EC2, to Anthony Brooke, referring to a conversation held with him regarding rehabilitation of Sarawak, and summarising his views on this matter, 29 May 1946.