Snouck stayed in Aceh in 1891 and 1892. He learnt the Aceh language and researched the political and social situation in the area. He advised the colonial governorate in future to stop paying attention to the sultan of Aceh, who had no real power in the area, to subdue the enemies of the Netherlands (especially local ulamas) by force and to gain the trust of the population by promoting agriculture, industry and, above all, trade. It took until 1898 before this policy was implemented by the new governor of Aceh, General Jo van Heutsz. Snouck was his adviser and together they succeed in breaking the Aceh resistance. Snouck had no moral objections to going to war and, at the turn of the century, he was an exponent of ‘ethical imperialism’, although that term did not exist in his time. Areas

where, in his view, there was only anarchy or a despotic administration or where gangs ruled must be brought under colonial rule, by military force if necessary. By the end of the 19th century, Aceh had been the site of an armed conflict that had been going on for 25 years and that had to end. The colonial government could then ensure equitable governance and modern progress there and elsewhere. Of course, violence during war should be limited. A military operation in which kampongs (villages) are needlessly burnt down or farmers are killed would only work against them. But the fact that Dutch actions could result in casualties was something Snouck accepted as a necessary evil. The Aceh War, as it was waged using Snouck's ideas, may well have been the first anti-guerrilla or counterinsurgency campaign in history.