Clunies-Ross directed British government inside the Mauritius with an attraction to possess coverage and recognition into the fledgling nest. His first petition on the Governor regarding Mauritius, Charles Colville, asked for the hawaiian islands are admitted ‘beneath the supremacy for the Bodies of Mauritius’. 64 To make his situation for security, Clunies-Ross desired ‘an amount of local magisterial authority’ and a title such as for example harbour master who does buttress their standing into islands and you may about imperial bureaucracy. 65 Their timing are poor; Colville’s connection with officials inside London is strained when he sided with French creoles against Uk legal reforms so you’re able to ameliorate bondage. 66
Only thirty days once creating so you’re able to Colville, Clunies-Ross penned the second petition, this one managed towards king and you can written within the session on the Proctor for the Legal out of Admiralty off St Louis inside Mauritius. 67 It expected your Cocos-Keeling Countries be placed in a condition off ‘union’ to your king’s dominions and this he yourself, along with his heirs ‘in perpetuity’, end up being awarded an excellent ‘offer of property’ on islands. 68 The details of one’s agreements the guy questioned in the one or two petitions differed, but one another demonstrate that Clunies-Ross had planned an identical combination of safeguards and many certified recognition from their authority.
Their devotion to preserve his or her own signal, along with proceeded sexual exploitation out-of his captives, didn’t blind him with the benefits of strengthening their relationships for the Dutch management when you look at the Batavia
Hare at the same time was cosying to new Dutch for the Java. The guy clearly imagined the chance that he may push away British intervention because of the solidifying Dutch help. On the a dozen December 1828, Hare blogged a page so you can elder Dutch officials inside Batavia asserting which he try ‘practical of the advantageous asset of adjacency to a protecting authority’. 69
Just as aware that there is certainly some benefit to become achieved, Dutch officials recommended the scene which they might annex the islands. In October 1829, a beneficial naval administrator, H. van der Jagt, turned up onboard the new schooner Blora to research the brand new updates of the territory. 70 Since the he had been currently during the correspondence which have a whole lot more increased figures when you look at the Batavia, Hare displayed absolutely nothing need for revealing their hand to help you an excellent junior manager, however, the guy did identify you to definitely ‘it will be fascinating to have him in the event the Dutch Authorities increased its banner truth be told there, however, as a keen English subject he could not connect with brand new Netherlands government accomplish so’. 71 Van der Jagt figured Hare planned to ‘withdraw away from most of the personal establishment’ to make certain that he is ‘lord and you may master’ over his sufferers. Including Hare, Clunies-Ross is frantically shopping for cover. According to van der Jagt, Clunies-Ross got announced their wish to your Netherlands Eastern Indies authorities control the islands and you can verified he ‘like to become not as much as Dutch 
than simply English rule’. 72 This plan requisite certain sleight of hand, since the Clunies-Ross hidden of Dutch officials his is attractive within the Mauritius along with his guarantees in order to United kingdom authorities which he cannot ditch his standing due to the fact an united kingdom subject or import allegiance so you’re able to Batavia.
None the fresh new Dutch nor british then followed the check outs by the saying states sovereignty across the islands
These types of machinations did alot more to preserve ambiguity towards islands’ reputation than to offer clearness regarding the imperial that belong. Indeed, when because of the possible opportunity to get it done, each other empires taken straight back. Within the June 1830, brand new Governor-Standard, Johannes van den Bosch, decided it might possibly be a proper error when planning on taking hands away from countries one exhibited neither obvious award neither visible possibilities. 73 Due to their part, the british acknowledged one to according to the usual formulas setting-up imperial fingers, the fresh Hare and you can Clunies-Ross agreements you will prove enough. Writing in order to London, Owen tepidly endorsed the idea one a company claim to the newest islands would-be useful, eg offered their location between India and you may Australian continent. 74 But securely starting such as for instance a declare put about long upcoming. Alternatively, just like their Dutch counterparts, British authorities continued so you’re able to frame interactions into isles into the idiom off shelter in the place of while making any definitive commitment to rule.