THE MALAY SULTANS
Sia,—The action of the Malay Sultans in refusing to attend the installa- tion of the first Governor of the Malayan Union must not be interpreted as being in any way an act of disloyalty to the Crown. It seems clear that the Sultans regard Sir Edward Gent as filling a dual role. As he is the representative of His Majesty, they are more than willing to pay the respect due to his high office. On the other hand, they must be fully aware that, as a senior official of the Colonial Office, and in charge of the Malayan section during the past two years, Sir Edward Gent may be presumed to be responsible for the details of the Malayan Union proposals, to many of which the Sultans have taken the gravest exception —to say nothing of the unfortunate manner in which acceptance of the proposals was invited. Until the proposals are put into a more accept- able form, the Sultans are unwilling to make any admissions, and no one should cavil at the position which they have taken. up.
One other feature of the installation is worthy of comment. According to constitutional practice, when a Governor is appointed to a Crown Colony he becomes Governor-designate on kissing bands with His Majesty ; but his appointment is only complete, when, on arrival in the
Colony, he has taken the oath of office before the Chief Judicial Officer. As no Chief Justice of the Malayan Union had been appointed, it would be interesting to learn before whom the oath was taken, or whether it was taken at all. Possibly the Malayan Union is not regarded as a Crown Colony, though, if that is the case, there is a distinction without a difference. Or perhaps the bureaucratic ideas of the Colonial Office have advanced so far that the former constitutional practice of a Governor having the oath administered to him by a judge can now be disregarded.
Previous page
