Clunies Ross V Is Now
pp. 76-77 · Read in the full issue
Located
Singapore Talks To Decide Future of Cocos Keeling
WPIEN it was announced, a couple of months ago, that the £2,750,000 paid by Australia and New Zealand for the phosphate on Christmas Island (In dian Ocean) would be shared by the Murray and Clunies Ross families, it was assumed that Christmas Island was part of the Cocos Keeling Islands, which have been the unchallenged domain of the Clunies Ross family for 125 years.
This was incorrect. Christmas Island is 530 miles from Cocos Keeling. The Clunies Ross interest in Christmas arises from the fact that, in 1897, Clunies. Ross 11, of Cocos Keeling, joined with Sir John Murray in forming Christmas Island Phosphate Co. Ltd., which has held the phosphate rights ever since, and which has just sold out to the Australian and NZ Governments.
The full story of Cocos Keeling was told in the November PIM. We described how Clunies Ross I (John) settled in Cocos Keeling in 1825, and took possession, and died in 1854; how Clunies Ross II (John George), who married a Malayan princess and reigned from 1854 until the late 19th century, was confirmed in absolute pos session by Queen Victoria, in 1886, in re cognition of the very good government of the atoll; how Clunies Ross 111 died in 1910; how Clunies Ross IV (1910-1944) died during a Jap air-raid on the island; and how various interests had reported that they had sought for Clunies Ross V, but had not discovered him. and they won dered what was to become of Cocos Keel ing.
Clunies Ross IV seems to have been a lestless person. When the search for Ross V was on, the newspapers said he did not appear to have been married prior to 1930, but that he was reported to have married a lady whom he met in a tea shop in 1930, and she bore him a son. An other newspaper, however, said it had located a real heir—an attractive youth, who was then at a British University.
THE “PIM” now is able to complete the stoiy. Clunies Ross IV apparently was married and had a son in 1928 or 1929. We have received the following letter from Commander and Mrs. Irving Johnson, of the American brigantine “Yankee,” who are well-known writers and world-wanderers. They are on their fourth round-the-world cruise, which is planned to extend from November, 1947, to May, 1949. when they are due back at their home in Springfield, Mass. Mrs.
Electa Johnson wrote on December 14; “I am sure you know the extraordinary history of the Ross family, who have been virtual kings of the Cocos Keeling Islands for the last four generations. On our previous visit, in 1934, we met John Clunies Ross IV, and were greatly in terested in him and in the remarkable islands.
“We called there again just a few weeks ago. John Clunies Ross IV died during the war, and his son, John, is the heir— at least, he will be in another year; he is only 20 now.
“We had often wondered what would hapnen to the islands after the older Ross (whom we knew) died, and we were told on our recent visit that John, though he was educated in England and has spent most of his life away from the islands, loves Cocos and would like to carry on the old Ross tradition.
“John was not there himself at the t me of our visit, because he was attending a conference in Singapore which was to make several decisions about the Cocos Keeling Islands. I suppose lawyers and bankers are taking part, also Mrs. Ross (who recently married a former manager of the Cocos Cable Station) and Govern ment representatives, who may decide they want all or part of the islands for a mili tary base.
“One important question is the future of the Malay population, the 1800 descen dants of the families whom the first Ross brought to the island. If copra prices are anything less than sky-high, the island cannot support their growing numbers.
“They are a unique people, knowing no world beyond Cocos, accustomed to com plete security through their dependence on the Rosses for three or four genera tions, and completely unskilled in the ways of living on an atoll without sup plies from outside. There is some talk of their all being moved to Borneo, and we heard that the Malays themselves thought that an exciting prospect.
“Altogether, we ran into a number of interesting questions pending at that time, but to be settled this month in Singapore.
“We thought there was some signifi cance in the fact that the decisions were being made before John became 21, and could decide matters for himself. We also read recently that the Ross interests in Christmas Island phosphate had been sold for a large sum.”