SARAWAK'S HISTORY
Sm,—May I, an old friend and admirer of Britain and the Empire, intrude a warning word in your pages upon the subject of Sarawak? For me and for many it is a test case. All rights of helpless nations, all noble protestations concerning the future of colonial peoples and their intended enfranchisement among nations as they prove themselves capable of self-government, go by the board if England reverses the process now merely for the convenience of the Colonial Office or for the sake of other interests or for revenues. In 1938, Czechoslovakia seemed to Mr. Chamberlain very far away and unimportant compared with " peace in our time " at any cost of honour or prestige. But all minority-nation Europe shook with sudden fear, and, unless I am gravely wrong, spasms still dart through that great wound to the faith of little nations and govern their decisions in seeking to safeguard themselves. The revived deep admiration of Britain since is- still all too thin a cicatrice. The wound could open. (I was in a small country when it happened ; I speak from observation then—and now.) Sarawak is far away and unimportant in the common outlook, though it is a well-known world to mining men. Nothing but self-interest can be adduced for annexation, for competence to govern themselves by those concerned' has been proved. The friends of Britain who have steadily argued her colonial enlightenment and honour will be silenced forever if this annexation proceeds, contrary to all equity, and without so much as the appointment of an impartial commission to investigate fairly and fully opinion and the facts pro and con both here and in Sarawak.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully, AN AMERICAN.
[There has never been a shred of self-government in Sarawak. Even the Constitution of 1941, whose operation was frustrated by the Japanese invasion, left all the power in the hands of the Rajah's nominees. Sarawak has always been a pure autocracy.—En., Spectator.]
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