The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-28
Despatch Of Rear Admiral Jenkins,
of the Asiatic Squadron.
TIE REAL CAUSES OF THE War.
Dutch Greed and Dutch Oppression Of tho
Natives Of Sumatra.
HATEFUL SYSTEM OF MONOPOLY.
Pretext Of the Dutch to Seize the Whols
Island of Sumatra.

WASHINGTON, June 81, 1873.
The Navy Department. has referred TO the Secre~
tary or State the last despatch OF Rear Admlrak
jenkins, commanding the Asiatic squadron, in ref
erence TO the Acheen war. Admiral Jenkins writes
at Hong Kong, and says:-
Recent events In the island OF Sumatra woul6
seem to require that should advert to them. Soon
after my arrival at Singapore near the end or
November last, heard many rumors OF approach-
ing difficulties between the Netherlands Batavan
government and the Sultan OF Acheen whose ter
ritores lie ut the northwestern end OF the island Of
Sumatra. 1 learned that the President Of Java
had been appointed by his home government am
envoy or commissioner to the reigning sovereign
at Acheen, of the small remaining part Of tha
island of Sumatra not already owned by or undeE
the protection OF the Netherlands government, for
the purpose OF settling some unnamed-and pro-
baby unknown to other nations
ALLEGED GRIEVANCES.
found, however, that for some unexplained
reason the President, soon after his arrival ats
Singapore from Bangkok, whittier he had been ons
diplomatic service for his government, proceeded
to Batavia, instead Of going to Acheen, as it had
been said it was his purpose to do. PRIOR
to hearing these rumors OF threatened difficulties,
between the Netherlands government and the Sui
tan of Acheen had thought OF visiting Point de-
Gale, and thence going over to Sumatra, knowing.
that in former years, fnot recently, merchant
vessels were in the habit OF trading that coast
receiving from the natives in exchange for their
goods the various products OF the island such as
pepper, tumertc, camphor, &C. l found upon dill
gent inquiry among the merchants at Singapore
and Penang that the products Of the dominion OF
the Sultan Of Acheen are now sent chiefly by MALAY
and Chinese small vessels to those ports for
shipment to Europe and America, and that Ia
rarely happens OF late that foreign vessel goes
there. Furthermore, it was commonly reported
that there was to be
DECLARATION OF WAR
by the Netherlands government against the Su1<
TAM soon as the necessary preparations could
be made. Revolving these matters over in my
mind and feeling that we had no treaty, CONNER
cial or other, with the Sultan Of Acheen my pres
ence at that time near his capital in o vessel OF
war might be misunderstood, not only by the two
parties directly involved, but by European nations
generally, and that 1t probably might induce false
hopes on the part of the one. and create ill-will
on the part OF the other, without the pos
sibilty OF Its resulting IN any real goO6
to either party, l determined not to visit
the coast Of Sumatrg while the troubles
remained unsettled. The Department Isl
aware that 1t rarely occurs that United States
vesscl-ofwar visits the ports OF Sumatrn, and my
first impulse TO 60 there arose from the desire to
appearance at long intervals OF small brigs OK
schooners laden with notions for barter with the
natives for pepper and other articles produced in
the island l was not surprised to find very
strong feeling the part Of the citizens and mer-
s.hhts Of other nationalites than the Netherlands
at the straits settlements against what they
deemed +
THE OPPRESSION OF THE NATIVES OF sUMATRA ny
THE DUTCH,
anu against the efforts OF that government to ind
pretexts for taking possession OF the entire 1sands
and this feeling seems to have greatly increased
since the alleged ratification OF o treaty between
Great Britain and the Netherlands In which the
former agrees not to interfere with the iatterE
conquests the islands Of the Sumatra side OF tho
Straits OF Malvern, and the latter withdraws all
prior claim against the islands on the Singapore,
Malacca, Penang and wellesley side OF those.
Straits. It is complained generally by the mcr.
chants with whom have conversed that
THE SYSTEM or GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY
adopted In the Netherlands colonies in thos6
islands is both detrimental and unjust to the citi-
zens and subjects OF all other nations. Hence tho
excitement in the Straits settlements growing out
OF the threatened, and By the latest accounts
actual war by the Dutch upon the only remaining
native ruler In the island OF Sumatra. 1t appears
there has been fleet despatched from Batavia to
Acheen consisting of six ships-ofwar and five
steam launches carrying forty-seven guns aud
1850 seamen, together with force OF 200 In
fantry, cavalry and artillery men, with eighteen
pieces of heavy cannon and 1000 coolies and con.
victs as laborers, and ten transports conveying
horses, men, ammunition, stores, &c. do not
see how or the Navy Department could properly
have taken part heretofore, or can hereafter, in.
this quarrel think It my duty to invite the at
tention OF the government to the fact which seems
from all hear to be undeniable, that the colonial
governments OF the Netherlands in these seas
pursue
AREsTRrCTrvE POLICY
In regard to trade, which, II found upon CAREFUL
examination to be as alleged needs attention.
with the view to It's ameioration by treaty. The
special products OF Sumatra-viz., sage, capsicum,
pepper, tumeric. ginger, coriander cumin seed,
camphor. benzon, hemp, &C., are such as in my
Judgment all nations have right to trade In on.
terms OF that equality accorded BY ourselves and
by the commercial nations Of Europe. Very re-
spectfully THORNTON A. JENKINS,
Rear Admiral Commanding.
To Hon. GEORGE N. robson, Secretary of the
Navy.
MUSIC IN THE PARK.
There viii be music by the Central PARK Band, ON