Although Malaya was effectively governed by the British, "de jure" the Malays were sovereign over Malaya. A former British High Commissioner, Hugh Clifford, urged "everyone in this country be mindful of the fact that this is a Malay country, and we British came here at the invitation of Their Highnesses the Malay Rulers, and it is our duty to help the Malays to rule their own country." The British government adopted an open "Pro-Malay" policy so that, in the words of High Commissioner Sir Laurence Guillemard, the Malays could be equipped "to take their proper place in the administrative and commercial life of these States."