1926

268
TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND SIAM
houses, but cannot purchase land within a circuit of 200 sen (not more than 4 miles
English) from the city walls, until they shall have lived in Siam for ten years, or shall
obtain special authority from the Siamese Government to enable them to do so. But
with the exception of this limitation, British residents in Siam may at any time buy or
rent houses, lands, or plantations, situated anywhere within a distance of twenty-four
hours’ journey from the city iof Bangkok, to be computed by the rate at which boats of
the country can travel. In order to obtain possession of such land or houses, it will be
necessary that the British subject shall, in the first place, make application through the
Consul to the proper Siamese officers; and the Consul, having satisfied himself of the
honest intention of the applicant, will assist him in settling, upon equitable terms, the
amount of the purchase money, will mark out and fix the boundaries of the property,
and will convey the same to the British purchaser under sealed deeds. Whereupon
he and his property shall be placed under the protection of the Governor of the district
and that of the particular local authorities; he shall conform, in ordinary matters, to
any just directions given him by them, and will be subject to the same taxation that is
levied on Siamese subjects. But if, through negligence and want of capital or other
cause, a British subject should fail to commence the cultivation or improvement of the
land so acquired within a term of three years from the date of receiving possession
thereof, the Siamese Government shall have the power of resuming the property, upon
returning to the British subject the purchase-money paid by him for the same.
Art. V.—All British subjects intending to reside in Siam shall be registered at
the British Consulate. They shall not go out to sea, nor proceed beyond the limits
assigned by this Treaty for the residence of British subjects, without a passport from
the Siamese authorities, to be applied for by the Britsh Consul; nor shall they leave
Siam if the Siamese authorities show to the British Consul that legitimate objection
exists to their quitting the country. But within the limits appointed under the
preceding article, British subjects are at liberty to travel to and fro under protection
of a pass, to be furnished them by the British Consul and counter-sealed by the proper
Siamese officer, stating, in the Siamese characters, their names, calling, and description.
The Siamese officers of the Government stations in the interior may, at any time, cal)
for the production of this pass, and immediately on its being exhibited they must
allow the parties to proceed; but it will be their duty to detain those persons who, by
travelling without a pass from the Consul, render themselves liable to the suspicion of
their being deserters; and such detention shall be immediately reported to the Consul.
Art. VI.—All British subjects visiting or residing in Siam shall be allowed the
free exercise of the Christian religion and liberty to build churches in such localities
as shall be consented to by the Siamese authorities. The Siamese Government will
place no restriction upon the employment by the English of Siamese subjects as
servants, or in any other capacity. But whenever a Siamese subject belongs to or owes
service to some particular master, the servant who engages himself to a British
subject without the consent of his master may be reclaimed by him; and the Siamese
Government will not enforce an agreement between a British subject and any Siamese
in his employ unless made with the knowledge and consent of the master who has a
right to dispose of the services of the person engaged.
Art. VTI.—British ships of war may enter the river and anchor at Paknam,
but they shall not proceed above Paknam, unless with the consent of the Siamese
authorities, which shall be given when it is necessary that a ship shall go into dock for
repairs. Any British ship of war conveying fro Siam a public functionary accredited
by Her Majesty’s Government to the Court of Bangkok shall be allowed to come up to
Bangkok; but shall not pass the forts called Pong Phrachamit and Pit-patch-nuck,
Unless expressly permitted to do so by the Siamese Government; but in the absenco
of a British ship of war the Siamese authorities engage to furnish the Consul with &
force sufficient to enable him to give effect to his authority over British subjects and
to enforce discipline among British shipping.
Art. VIII.—The measurement duty hitherto paid by British vessels trading to
Bangkok under the Treaty of 1826 shall be abolished from the date of this Treaty
coming into operation, and British shipping and trade will henceforth be only subject