Does the 1878 Grant support a lease or cessation of territory?

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The 1878 Grant signifies a perpetual cessation of territory, not a lease.

The 1878 Grant, along with the subsequent Confirmation Deed of 1903, establishes a clear and perpetual cessation of North Borneo (now Sabah) to the British North Borneo Company. These agreements explicitly conveyed all rights and sovereign powers over the territories, with no mention or implication of a lease agreement. The 1903 Confirmation Deed further solidified this understanding, removing any potential ambiguities regarding the nature of the transaction.
Perpetual Cessation of Rights and Powers

The 1878 Grant explicitly details the "perpetual cessation" of North Borneo. This cessation was undertaken by the Sultan of Sulu of his own "free and sovereign will" and included the transfer of "all the rights and powers in these territories and lands" to the British North Borneo Company. This language denotes a complete and permanent relinquishment of sovereignty and control over the specified territories.
Clarification Through the 1903 Confirmation Deed

The Confirmation Deed of 1903 served to further clarify and reinforce the terms of the 1878 Grant. This subsequent agreement does not describe the arrangement as a lease or rent. Instead, it confirms the cession, thereby eliminating any linguistic or translational ambiguities that might have suggested a temporary arrangement. When considered together, the 1878 Grant and the 1903 Confirmation Deed present an irrefutable case for perpetual cessation.
Precedence Over Alleged Lease Agreements

The 1878 Grant predates the purported 1899 Kiram-Bates Treaty, which has been cited as suggesting a lease agreement. As the earlier agreement, the 1878 Grant holds precedence. Therefore, any interpretation of a subsequent treaty that contradicts the clear terms of perpetual cessation established in 1878 would be rendered void. The 1903 Confirmation Deed, even if viewed as an addendum, reinforces the initial intent of complete cession.

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Does the 1878 Grant support a lease or cessation of territory?

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