During the next five years a “paper war” over Singapore was carried on between London, The Hague, Calcutta, Batavia, Penang and Malacca. Van dear Capellan thought that his protests and threats would make the British leave Singapore. But hey did not. Lord Hastings who had earlier rebuked Raffles, decided to support Raffles. He and the Dutch finally agreed to carry our the decision made by London and The Hague. Lord Hastings and then ordered Bannerman to send troops to protect Singapore for time being. While the British and the Dutch were trying to come to an agreement over Singapore, teh new settlement was prospering rapidly. The British soon became unwilling to give it up.