Letters from Kathleen Brooke while travelling in Sarawak to Anthony Brooke in Singapore, 1947-1948

folder

Held at the Weston Library

Some letters were clipped together by her and numbered in sequence: these numbers are given in brackets and the main topics, other than personal and family matters, are noted. Comprises:

(fols. 1-2) letter from SS Darvel, about the splendid send-off given her by Anthony Brooke and her pride in representing him in Sarawak, 27 Jul 1947
(fols. 3-5) letter from SS Darvel, describing the previous day's events, the enthusiastic welcome by great crowds at Pending and Kuching, and many old friends and representatives of all the Unions, 29 Jul 1947
(fols. 6-8) letter [from Baram], about her arrival at Marudi and 'a really wonderful welcome'; the hospitality of John Gilbert (Resident, Fourth Division); his proposal that Anthony Brooke should come to Sarawak for a meeting with the Governor and Residents only and then return to London; and her visit with Tuanku Taha to the grave of her brother Donald's son, Jeremy, 3 Aug 1947
(fols. 9-13) two letters [from Baram] about the warm welcome received everywhere she travelled, thanks in part to the affection felt for her brother; her impression that very few indigenous people in Baram knew that Brooke rule had ended; Major Carter's view that if Anthony Brooke had landed with him and Tom Harrisson 'the whole of Sarawak would be at your feet' but that after a year of Crown Colony rule it was best to let well alone, 10 and 11 Aug 1947
(fols. 14-15) letter from SS Darvel, summing up her impressions of Baram, that indigenous people were unconcerned with politics and governments; and that travelling had been limited and her visits unexpected but she had been welcomed in all but one of the long houses she had visited, 19 Aug 1947
(fols. 16-22) two letters from Darul Kurnia, Kuching, about misleading propaganda spread by government officers among the Dayak communities, that Anthony Brooke would never return and that British rule would bring prosperity; and the enthusiastic welcomes shown to her everywhere, 20-25 Aug 1947
(fols. 23-25) letter from Sibu, about dining at the Residency (John Fisher) with the Governor [Sir Charles Arden-Clarke] after his visit to Koh; the Governor's invitation to her to stay at the Astana; and his interest in MacBryan, 29 Aug 1947
(fol. 25A) manuscript copy of a cable about her intention to disobey government decision regarding staying in kampongs; and her view that the ban had become necessary to maintain peace, 25 Oct 1947
(fol. 26) letter from Sibu about her return there after 'one heck of a journey' [from Oya], but a very successful trip; Fisher's insistence that she should not go to the Balleh [river or constituency?]; 'have got all associations united'; and MacDonald's 'scandalous speech' attacking Anthony Brooke personally, 28 Oct 1947
(fols. 27-38) two letters from Sibu, about being banned as an 'Undesirable Person' from visiting the Balleh [river or constituency?] to meet Koh, with copies of relevant correspondence; her eventual agreement for Koh to visit her instead in Sibu; the possibility of the MI5 planting someone in Anthony Brooke's house; interception of her letters; John Barcroft to take over as Resident and her distrust of him; and problems relating to Koh's visit, 3 and 12 Nov 1947
(fols. 39-44) letter from Darul Kurnia about her arrival in Kuching and the grand welcome from all associations; her longing for a 'sign from London and Parliament that some interest is being taken'; and rumours of a plebiscite, as well as of Crocker coming to Sarawak, 21-23 Nov 1947
(fols. 45-53) (Nos 1-6) six letters from Darul Kurnia, about many problems, including K[ipli] and the Malay National Union; also, difficulties concerning her proposed visit to the Second Division, 1-16 Dec 1947
(fols. 54-57) (11) letter from Darul Kurnia with typed copies of three Dayak letters, n.d.
(fol. 58) copies of two cables from her to Anthony Brooke about the Governor-General's statement that 'Anthony Brooke will never show his face in this river again', 1 and 2 Jan 1948
(fol. 59) letter from Darul Kurnia, draft of her letter to the Governor accepting his invitation to stay at the Astana before leaving to visit the Fourth Division, 12 Jan 1948
(fols. 60-65) (Nos 12-14) letter from the Astana and Darul Kurnia, about her pleasant visit and amicable talk with the Governor and about her admiration for him; her feelings that the usefulness of her tour was over; and her total distrust of K[ipli] (General Organising Secretary, USNA), 13-23 Jan 1948
(fols. 66-67) letter from the Residency, Miri, about the dreadful voyage to Miri; and plans for her return to Singapore, and to be home for the children's Easter holidays, 30 Jan 1948
(fols. 68-69) letter from Marudi, about Wan Tuky being 'another broken reed'; her disappointment at having to cancel plans for final trips but travel conditions being very difficult and Kuching 'one miserable little hotbed of petty scandal'; and her great admiration and gratitude for Lily Eberwein (see MSS. Pac. s. 83/34, folder 10, fols. 46-54), 7 and 9 Feb 1948.