Page 385 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

371.

Elsewhere, though, the cruise of the "Potomac" and the

"Peacock" aroused interest in establishing a naval squadron in

Southeast Asia. American consuls in the major East Indian ports

of Batavia and Singapore especially supported an East Indian
Squadron. In 1834, after Edmund Roberts and the "Peacock"

had left Batavia, Consul Owen M. Roberts expressed to the State

Department his approval of a stronger naval presence in the

Indies. He wrote that "Batavia's geographical situation com­

bined with the value of the trade carried on in American ves­

sels, passing and repassing the Straits of Sunda in our irruned­

iate neighborhood seem of themselves to indicate . . • the

necessity of our having some naval force here, which at the

same time could afford protection to the not inconsiderable
58
trade with the west coast of Sumatra." Shortly thereafter

England allowed Americans to trade at Singapore and the newly­

appointed American consul urged more naval protection. Besides

advocating Singapore as an excellent station for the squadron,

he suggested that naval vessels could visit all East Indian
59
port0 including Canton and Manila. Increased American trade

58
consular Desoatches: Batavia, O.M. Roberts, Nov. 8,
1834. The former Ai�erican consul at Batavia, John Shillaber Q
had lobbied for American naval presence in the East Indies and
for American diplomatic relations with the various independent
states there. He had hoped to obtain the conunission given to
Edmund Roberts. Informed of the latter's appointment, Shillaber
resigned as consul and moved to Canton, where he joined the Eng­
lish house Jardine, Matheson & Co. Consular Despatches: Batavia,
J. Shillaber, Oct. 21, 1829, Dec. 10, 1830, May 31 & Jul. 1, 1831.
59
consular Despatches: Singapore, J. Balastier, Aug. 3,
1837, Jun. 4, 1838.