Political will of 2nd Rajah Charles Brooke, 16 December, 1913. In order to do his work properly and effectively it is necessary that the Rajah should spend at least eight months of each year in Sarawak at his post unless his health or other unexpected difficulties or old age present. As Rajah he should be the slave of his country and people. Otherwise the Raj will merely be a form, a display, a title to be kept up in society in England and not a reality. As the first Rajah used to say to me, “The head cannot be long separate from the heart”.
I am positive that my predecessor during his many years of devotion to the cause of the natives of Borneo and his desire to found a stable country and Government for them in Sarawak never entertained the idea of thereby founding a family of Brookes to be European millionaires. Those who worked for Sarawak and assisted his cause were worthy of the reward but others however closely related had no right to expect to be made rich at the expense of Sarawak.
I think it is right that the State should make provision in a moderate and reasonable degree for the family and dependents of the Rajah but even that only to such an extent as may be decided upon by the reigning Rajah and now with the additional approval and consent of the members of the Sarawak State Advisory Council in England.
I have never sought to store nor did my predecessor ever store a farthing towards any fund for our private purposes. Such riches as the country produces ought to be and have hitherto been applied solely for the good of Sarawak and for the pensioning off of Officers who have been in the service of the Country.
It must be clearly understood and recognised that the State of Sarawak is not a private property and that it does not in any way belong to a Company of shareholders or speculators. It should be the first care of my successors after making due provision for salaries and pensions to continue the regular development of the material resources of the State and to promote to the utmost of their power the prosperity and happiness and the moral and material welfare of the inhabitants.
The policy hitherto pursued has made the people happy and contented and has fostered an excellent spirit of sympathy and goodwill between the Government and the governed.
The danger which I apprehend is lest in the future too much money be spent out of the country and too much and attention may be devoted to matters unconnected with its prosperity and well-being, in that case the sympathy and good feeling heretofore existing will soon be brought to an end.
In confirmation of the will of my predecessor I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH my sovereignty of Sarawak and all the rights and privileges thereto belonging in manner following (that is to day) unto my eldest son Vyner and the Heirs male of his body with remainder to my third son Harry and the heirs male of his body with remainder to the son of my late younger brother Stuart and the heirs male of his body to H.M. the Jing of England.
