Governor-General Van Lansberge’s visit to Atjeh of March 1877 — the first such visit, with warships, native chiefs of Java in his retinue, twelve days of inspections and a solemn assembly of the Atjehnese chiefs of the XXV Moekims and the coast states — marked the turn from conquest to a defined strategy for the Government of Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden: no further extension of the strategic position in Groot-Atjeh, and armed action only against the Dependencies.
The visit
The occasion of the first visit of the then Landvoogd Mr. J. W. van Lansberge to Atjeh lay inter alia in the solution of some questions of a hygienic and financial nature, in which the weightiest interests of the country were involved. The Governor-General was accompanied by the General Secretary and a considerable retinue, among which also some prominent native chiefs of Java. A steamship of the Nederlandsch-Indische Stoomboot Maatschappij, escorted by the warships Prins Hendrik, Brouw, Borneo and Sambas, brought the Landvoogd on 14 March to Oelèë Lheue. He stayed twelve days in Atjeh, inspected several establishments and works, held daily conferences with the authorities for the discussion of administrative matters, and before his departure convened an assembly of all the chiefs of the XXV Moekims and of the coast states who were then present.
The assembly
In an address to those chiefs, interpreted by Assistant-Resident R. C. Kroesen, the Landvoogd pointed to the beneficent object aimed at by the establishment of the Dutch authority, and called upon them to cooperate powerfully to that end, with which their own interests were most closely bound up. Further he authorized them in his name to make known to the chiefs still in resistance that all who would then willingly submit would be maintained in their authority. The solemn assembly, which made a deep impression on all chiefs present, was closed with the presentation of gifts, and of flags and acts of recognition to the chiefs of the coast states who had not yet received them.
The strategic direction
The words and deeds of the Landvoogd held close connexion with the conviction that extension of the strategic position in Groot-Atjeh was no longer expedient, and that military operations had to be limited to an armed action against the Dependencies. The ensuing submissions of Simpang Oelèm and Tandjong Seumantoh, of Langsa and Modjopahit, of Rigaih and the adjacent landscapes — and the approaching contact of the Gajo chiefs, aided by a certain Teungkoe Hadjie — gave occasion to expect that Netherlands trade would profit by the opportunity of relations with the principal Atjehnese pepper harbours; but, as Langhout notes with regret, it could “helaas” not be established that the Dutch trader made a grateful use of the opportunity, Government support notwithstanding, most pepper continuing to be bought up at Penang.
See Also
- J. W. van Lansberge
- R. C. Kroesen
- Government of Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden
- Blockade of the Atjeh coast (1873-1874)
- 1877
Source
Vijftig jaren economische staatkunde in Atjeh, by Joh. Langhout (The Hague: N.V. Boekhandel v/h W. P. van Stockum & Zoon, 1923), pp. 35–37.