Clunies-Ross focused Uk regulators into the Mauritius with an appeal having protection and you may identification on the fledgling colony. His first petition with the Governor out of Mauritius, Charles Colville, asked for the hawaiian islands becoming accepted ‘beneath the supremacy of the Authorities from Mauritius’. 64 In making their circumstances to own safety, Clunies-Ross looked for ‘an amount of local magisterial authority’ and a title eg harbour learn that would buttress their condition toward islands and about imperial bureaucracy. 65 Their time is actually worst; Colville’s relationship with officials inside London was strained when he sided which have French creoles facing British judge reforms to ameliorate slavery. 66
Only thirty days once creating in 
order to Colville, Clunies-Ross published an extra petition, that one managed to the king and you can drawn up during the visit to the Proctor to the Courtroom from Admiralty from St Louis during the Mauritius. 67 They questioned that the Cocos-Keeling Isles be placed in a state of ‘union’ into the king’s dominions and this he yourself, and his heirs ‘within the perpetuity’, become approved an excellent ‘grant of your property’ regarding isles. 68 The facts of one’s plans he expected regarding the a couple petitions differed, however, one another show that Clunies-Ross got in your mind an equivalent mix of security and some formal detection from their power.
Their commitment in preserving his personal code, in addition to went on intimate exploitation off their captives, didn’t blind your into the benefits of building his associations to the Dutch administration inside Batavia
Hare meanwhile was cosying up to the latest Dutch towards Coffee. The guy obviously imagined the chance that he may prevent British input from the solidifying Dutch help. Towards several December 1828, Hare typed a letter to help you older Dutch officials during the Batavia saying he is ‘practical of advantageous asset of adjacency in order to a rescuing authority’. 69
Similarly conscious that there could be particular advantage to become achieved, Dutch authorities encouraged the scene that they you are going to annex the islands. When you look at the October 1829, good naval manager, H. van der Jagt, arrived aboard the fresh schooner Blora to investigate the newest status of one’s region. 70 As the he had been currently into the interaction having more raised numbers within the Batavia, Hare demonstrated little interest in revealing his give to help you a great junior manager, but the guy did describe you to ‘it will be exciting for him when the Dutch Regulators elevated its banner here, however, given that an enthusiastic English subject he may maybe not connect with the new Netherlands authorities accomplish so’. 71 Van der Jagt determined that Hare wished to ‘withdraw out of every social establishment’ making sure that they are ‘lord and you can master’ more than his subjects. Such as for instance Hare, Clunies-Ross are frantically searching for shelter. Centered on van der Jagt, Clunies-Ross got declared his would you like to that the Netherlands East Indies authorities control the islands and you will affirmed which he ‘would rather become around Dutch than just English rule’. 72 This strategy needed specific sleight of hand, because Clunies-Ross concealed out-of Dutch authorities his is attractive within the Mauritius with his assures so you can British government that he couldn’t forget their updates given that an united kingdom subject or import allegiance in order to Batavia.
Neither the brand new Dutch nor british then followed its check outs from the asserting states sovereignty along the islands
These machinations did even more in preserving ambiguity regarding the islands’ updates than to promote clarity regarding purple that belong. Actually, whenever considering the opportunity to take action, one another empires removed straight back. When you look at the Summer 1830, the Governor-Standard, Johannes van den Bosch, felt like this might possibly be a strategic mistake when planning on taking palms out-of isles you to exhibited none clear prize nor noticeable chances. 73 For their part, british acknowledged you to definitely within the common algorithms installing purple arms, this new Hare and Clunies-Ross settlements might establish sufficient. Composing in order to London area, Owen tepidly endorsed the theory one a strong claim to brand new islands might possibly be helpful, such as for instance provided its placement between India and you can Australia. 74 But completely starting such as a state put regarding the long upcoming. As an alternative, just like their Dutch alternatives, Uk authorities continued to help you figure interactions with the isles for the idiom off defense as opposed to and also make one definitive dedication to signal.