1917

TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND SIAM
278
Annex 3
Mr. Paget to Prince Devawongse
M. le Ministre, March 10, 1909.
In view of the position of British possessions in the Malay Peninsula and of the
contiguity of the Siamese Malay provinces with British-protected territory, His
Majesty’s Government are desirous of receiving an assurance that the Siamese
Government will not permit any danger to arise to British interests through the use
of any portion of the Siamese dominions in the peninsula for military or naval
purposes by foreign Powers.
His Majesty’s Government would therefore request that the Siamese Govern¬
ment shall not cede or lease, directly or indirectly, to any foreign Government any
territory situated in the Malay Peninsula south of the southern boundary of the
Monthon Rajaburi, or in any of the islands adjacent to the said territory; also that
within the limits above mentioned a right to establish or lease any coaling station, to
build or own any construction or repairing docks, or to occupy exclusively any harbours,
the occupation of which would be likely to be prejudicial to British interests from a
strategic point of view, shall not be granted to any foreign Government or Company.
Since this assurance is desired as a matter of political expediency only, the
phrase “coaling station” would not be held to include such small deposits of coal as
may be required for the purposes of the ordinary shipping engaged in the Malay
Peninsula coasting trade.
Prince Devavjongse to Mr. Paget
M. le Ministre, Foreign Office, Bangkok, March 10, 1909.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your note of this date, in which
you express the desire of your Government that the Siamese Government shall not
cede or lease, directly or indirectly, to any foreign Government any territory situated
in the Malay Peninsula south of the southern boundary of the Monthon Rajaburi
or in any of the islands adjacent to the said territory; also that within the limits
above-mentioned a right to establish or lease any coaling station, to build or own any
construction or repairing docks, or to occupy exclusively any harbours, the occupation
of which would be likely to be prejudicial to British interests from a strategic point
of view, shall not be granted to any foreign Government or company.
In reply, I beg to say that the Siamese Government gives its assurance to the
above effect, taking note that the phrase “coaling station” shall not include such
small deposits of coal as may be required for the purposes of the ordinary shipping
engaged in the Malay Peninsula coasting trade.
(Signed) Devawongse Varoprakar.
Prince Devawongse to Mr. Paget
M. le Ministre, Foreign Office, Bangkok, March 10, 1909.
With reference to the provision contained in Article IV. of the Jurisdiction
Protocol to the effect that in all cases in which a British subject is defendant or
accused a European adviser shall sit in Court, I would express the hope, on behalf of
His Majesty’s Government, that His Britannic Majesty’s Government will be prepared
in due course to consider the question of a modification of or release from this
guarantee when it shall be no longer needed; and, moreover, that in any negotiations
in connection with such a modification or release the matter may be treated upon its
merits alone, and not as a consideration for which some other return should be expected.
The Siamese Government appreciates that a Treaty like the one signed to-day
marks an advance in the administration of justice in the kingdom. The conclusion
of such a Treaty is in itself a sign of progress. It is the intention of the Siamese
Government to maintain the high standard in the administration of justice which it
has set before it, and towards which it has been working for some time.
In this connection I take pleasure in acknowledging the contribution which Mr.
J. Stewart Black has made to this work.