In 1911, Snouck summarised his views on colonial administration in a number of lectures that he published under the title Nederland en de Islam [The Netherlands and Islam]. In addition to his plea for full religious freedom, he wanted an 'association' of the Islamic population in the Indies with the Dutch. He wanted to connect the social elite in Java to Dutch culture through western education. They must then be given an independent role in the colonial administration. This would create a new nation with ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ Dutch people. Snouck also trusted that the Javanese and Sundanese elite would involve the general population in this process.
Snouck in his study, circa 1914, inv.nr. Or. 8952 L 5.18