R. C. Kroesen was the Netherlands Indian controller (later assistant-resident) in Atjeh who in 1873–1874 made two voyages along the Atjehnese coast to make the Government’s first trade proclamation known to the several Atjehnese chiefs, who in May 1874 sat on the commission that designed the first road, tramway and telegraph connections between Oelèë Lheue and Koeta Radja, and who in March 1877 interpreted Governor-General Van Lansberge’s address to the Atjehnese chiefs.
The coastal voyages of 1873–1874
In the broad proclamation issued during the blockade of the Atjehnese coast, the chiefs of the Atjehnese population were warned of the consequences which a friendly or a hostile attitude toward the Netherlands would have, particularly in connection with the trade capable of great expansion in the province. The commandant of the Dutch steamship Sumatra — which ship was initially destined for a voyage along the coasts of Atjeh — and the controller first class R. C. Kroesen, on two journeys along the coast, made the contents of that proclamation known as widely as possible to the several Atjehnese chiefs. To what extent the proclamation influenced the signing of the act of submission by the Radja of Gigiëng on 20 April 1874, Langhout leaves undecided.
The communications commission of 1874
On 26 May 1874 a commission was formed, consisting of the heeren Kroesen (assistant-resident), the chief engineer officer present and the lieutenant at sea J. P. Mercier, charged with investigating what the Government had to do for the improvement of the means of communication. On 26 June of the same year the Netherlands Indian Government approved the commission’s proposal to lay a road of five kilometres and a railway between the debarkation place Oelèë Lheue and Koeta Radja, to establish a telegraphic connection between both places, and to build a môle (zeehoofd) at Oelèë Lheue — the origins of the Atjeh Tram.
Interpreter of the Governor-General, 1877
At the solemn assembly of the chiefs of the XXV Moekims and of the coast states convened by Governor-General Van Lansberge before his departure in March 1877, the Landvoogd’s address — pointing to the beneficent object of the Netherlands authority and promising the chiefs still in resistance that voluntary submitters would be maintained in their authority — was interpreted by Assistant-Resident Kroesen.
See Also
Source
Vijftig jaren economische staatkunde in Atjeh, by Joh. Langhout (The Hague: N.V. Boekhandel v/h W. P. van Stockum & Zoon, 1923), pp. 28, 31, 35–36.