Korte Verklaring

The Korte Verklaring, or Short Declaration, was a brief standard treaty that the Dutch colonial government required indigenous rulers in the outer islands of the East Indies to sign from 1898. First used in Aceh under J. B. van Heutsz, it replaced long negotiated contracts with three clauses: the ruler recognised Dutch sovereignty, promised to have no dealings with foreign powers and agreed to obey Dutch orders. Hundreds of rulers signed it in the following years.