F. Alting Mees was a Dutch colonial minister who served from September 1876 to October 1877, a short but significant period in the Aceh War during Governor-General J.W. van Lansberge’s administration. Born in 1819, he was an experienced colonial official who had previously served as President of the Java Bank and President of the High Court of Justice in Batavia.
Early Career
Alting Mees began his legal career in Batavia in 1845 and served in various judicial and financial roles, including Procureur-Generaal, President of the Java Bank (1870-1873), and President of the High Court of Justice (1873-1876). He was appointed Minister of Colonial Affairs in September 1876, succeeding W. van Goltstein.
Policy and Administration
Alting Mees’ brief tenure was characterized by:
Aceh Policy
Alting Mees took a cautious approach to Aceh, urging Van Lansberge to be patient. He warned against over-optimism about a quick end to the war, stating that “we are still far from where we need to be” and that “facts, manifesting themselves in lower expenditure and simplification of our position, must be established before we can point with satisfaction to the entry of a new era.”
Key aspects of his Aceh policy included:
- Support for Van Lansberge’s visit to Aceh in 1877, though he noted the King and Van Goltstein were not supportive.
- Advocacy for a defensive posture, arguing that “it is the question whether by force of arms we can achieve what, according to history, must also be a matter of time.”
- Support for the Pel Plan to isolate Great Aceh from the sea.
- Recognition of the need for stronger military action against Simpang Oelim when necessary.
Financial Policy
Alting Mees dealt with the financial strains of the war, noting that “the Atjeh war threatens to disturb the financial balance.” He supported:
- The introduction of patent and personal taxes on Europeans.
- The construction of the Tanjung Priok harbor.
- The extension of state railways on Java.
- The need for “self-limitation” and “economy” in the Indies.
He was less enthusiastic about radical reform of the corvée (heerendiensten), advocating for gradual change.
Personnel Policy
Alting Mees was concerned about the quality of colonial officials, particularly in the judiciary. He advocated for:
- Better appointment procedures, including confidential reports on candidates.
- Improved training and career prospects for judicial officials.
- The introduction of a separate recruitment depot for the colonial army.
The Conversion Question
Alting Mees was cautious about the conversion of communal land to individual ownership on Java, though he was more open to it than some conservatives. He saw it as a matter that should be left to time and local circumstances.
Relationship with Van Lansberge
Alting Mees initially had a strained relationship with Van Lansberge, partly because of Van Lansberge’s frustration with the slow progress in Aceh. However, their relationship improved over time, with Alting Mees eventually providing “his full support” to Van Lansberge.
Resignation
Alting Mees’ ministry ended in October 1877 when the entire cabinet resigned over the education question. His resignation was not a result of any colonial policy disagreement but rather the broader political crisis in the Netherlands.
Legacy
Alting Mees’ brief tenure established key directions for the Aceh policy, including the need for patience and the eventual transition to civil governance. His financial and personnel policies contributed to the modernization of the colonial state.
See Also
- J.W. van Lansberge
- Aceh War
- W. van Goltstein
- P.P. van Bosse
- O. van Rees
- Tanjung Priok
- Secret Instruction of 5 June 1855
Source
J.W. van Lansberge en de praktijk van art. 4 van de Geheime Instructie van 5 Juni 1855, by M. Boon, Academisch Proefschrift ter verkrijging van den graad van doctor in de letteren en wijsbegeerte aan de Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht, 1943, Utrecht: N.V. A. Oosthoek’s Uitgevers-Maatschappij, pp. 179-210
F. Alting Mees was a Dutch colonial minister who served from September 1876 to October 1877, a short but significant period in the Aceh War during Governor-General J.W. van Lansberge’s administration. Born in 1819, he was an experienced colonial official who had previously served as President of the Java Bank and President of the High Court of Justice in Batavia.
Early Career
Alting Mees began his legal career in Batavia in 1845 and served in various judicial and financial roles, including Procureur-Generaal, President of the Java Bank (1870-1873), and President of the High Court of Justice (1873-1876). He was appointed Minister of Colonial Affairs in September 1876, succeeding W. van Goltstein.
Policy and Administration
Alting Mees’ brief tenure was characterized by:
Aceh Policy
Alting Mees took a cautious approach to Aceh, urging Van Lansberge to be patient. He warned against over-optimism about a quick end to the war, stating that “we are still far from where we need to be” and that “facts, manifesting themselves in lower expenditure and simplification of our position, must be established before we can point with satisfaction to the entry of a new era.”
Key aspects of his Aceh policy included:
- Support for Van Lansberge’s visit to Aceh in 1877, though he noted the King and Van Goltstein were not supportive.
- Advocacy for a defensive posture, arguing that “it is the question whether by force of arms we can achieve what, according to history, must also be a matter of time.”
- Support for the Pel Plan to isolate Great Aceh from the sea.
- Recognition of the need for stronger military action against Simpang Oelim when necessary.
Financial Policy
Alting Mees dealt with the financial strains of the war, noting that “the Atjeh war threatens to disturb the financial balance.” He supported:
- The introduction of patent and personal taxes on Europeans.
- The construction of the Tanjung Priok harbor.
- The extension of state railways on Java.
- The need for “self-limitation” and “economy” in the Indies.
He was less enthusiastic about radical reform of the corvée (heerendiensten), advocating for gradual change.
Personnel Policy
Alting Mees was concerned about the quality of colonial officials, particularly in the judiciary. He advocated for:
- Better appointment procedures, including confidential reports on candidates.
- Improved training and career prospects for judicial officials.
- The introduction of a separate recruitment depot for the colonial army.
The Conversion Question
Alting Mees was cautious about the conversion of communal land to individual ownership on Java, though he was more open to it than some conservatives. He saw it as a matter that should be left to time and local circumstances.
Relationship with Van Lansberge
Alting Mees initially had a strained relationship with Van Lansberge, partly because of Van Lansberge’s frustration with the slow progress in Aceh. However, their relationship improved over time, with Alting Mees eventually providing “his full support” to Van Lansberge.
Resignation
Alting Mees’ ministry ended in October 1877 when the entire cabinet resigned over the education question. His resignation was not a result of any colonial policy disagreement but rather the broader political crisis in the Netherlands.
Legacy
Alting Mees’ brief tenure established key directions for the Aceh policy, including the need for patience and the eventual transition to civil governance. His financial and personnel policies contributed to the modernization of the colonial state.
See Also
- J.W. van Lansberge
- Aceh War
- W. van Goltstein
- P.P. van Bosse
- O. van Rees
- Tanjung Priok
- Secret Instruction of 5 June 1855
Source
J.W. van Lansberge en de praktijk van art. 4 van de Geheime Instructie van 5 Juni 1855, by M. Boon, Academisch Proefschrift ter verkrijging van den graad van doctor in de letteren en wijsbegeerte aan de Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht, 1943, Utrecht: N.V. A. Oosthoek’s Uitgevers-Maatschappij, pp. 179-210.