An agreement between two powers
The Treaty of London 1824, also called the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, was signed between Britain and the Netherlands (the Dutch). Its aim was to end the long rivalry between the two powers over ports and trade in the Malay world. Instead of fighting, they agreed to divide the region into two spheres of influence.
Key idea
The treaty divided the Malay world along the Straits of Melaka: the north (the Malay Peninsula) went to the British, and the south (Sumatra and the islands) went to the Dutch.
How the land was divided
Under the treaty, the Dutch handed Melaka to the British, while the British handed Bencoolen (Bengkulu) in Sumatra to the Dutch. The Dutch also dropped their objections to the British settlement at Singapore. From now on, the British would not interfere south of the Straits, and the Dutch would not interfere in the Peninsula.
Impact on the Malay world
The treaty had a deep and lasting effect. It split the old Johor-Riau empire in two, separating Singapore and the Peninsula from Riau and the southern islands. Peoples who shared one language and culture were now placed under two different European powers. Most importantly, the line drawn in 1824 became the basis for the modern boundary between Malaysia and Indonesia. A single Malay world was divided by a decision made far away in Europe.
Remember
- Signed 1824 between Britain and the Dutch (Anglo-Dutch Treaty).
- Divided the Malay world along the Straits of Melaka.
- Dutch gave Melaka; British gave Bencoolen.
- It split the Johor-Riau empire and shaped the Malaysia–Indonesia border.