The expansion of Dutch control on the central West- and East-Coasts of Sumatra, 1816-1873

Abstract

It should be mentioned from the outset that this study is only indirectly concerned with Indonesian History proper, as it deals solely with the activities of the Dutch in the Central West- and East-Coast area of Sumatra during the period 1816-1871. The objective of this investigation is to provide an account - and if possible a reasonable explanation - of the extension of Dutch political and economic control in that part of Sumatra, However, in order to provide a reasonable explanation I have found it necessary to examine the subject not only in terms of local issues but also in the wider context of European history, especially the history of nineteenth century Anglo-Dutch relations. Therefore this thesis purports to be an integrated account of Dutch expansion in Central Sumatra, which to my knowledge has not been attempted so far either in English or in Dutch, In fact it has primarily been Dr. Tarling's recent work on British policy in the Malacca Straits and the Peninsula which has given me the idea for this thesis, i,e. to add to his work by investigating the actions of the other contender in the area: Holland. But I wish to point out immediately that my work cannot claim the same degree of exhaustiveness and finesse as Dr« Tarling,s for the reason that I have not been able to draw directly on archival material in Holland and Indonesia, Although I do not wish to underestimate the dangers posed to historical research by selections and compilations of documents, I hope to show in the following precis of the story that the printed sources which I was able to use are a good enough sample on which to base valid conclusions. Immediately on the return of the Dutch to the East-Indies in 1816 Sumatra figured prominently in the disputes which arose with the British authorities about the restitution of the colonies. An Anglo-Dutch Convention of August, 1814 restoring to Holland some of its former colonial empire was particularly vague as to what territories exactly were to be returned to the Dutch; and moreover the Convention did not settle any of the outstanding pre-war disputes which had been caused by British demands for a greater share of the East-Indian trade and a post at the Southern entrance to the Malacca Straits, Finally in March, 1824 a new treaty was concluded in which Holland was given dominion over the whole of Sumatra with the exception of Achin. Considering that any territorial expansion at this time by a non-British nation would be dependant on the fiat of Britain, the most important power in South East Asia,I found it of great importance to the story to investigate why and how Sumatra came to he recognized as a Dutch dominion.