The Anglo-Siamese treaty of 1909 and its aftermath

Abstract

March 10, 1909 marked a turning-point in Anglo-Siamese relations as it saw the signature of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty which brought a settlement to a series of discussions regarding the cession of territory, the abrogation of the 1897 Anglo-Siamese Secret Convention, the abandonment of the extraterritorial rights of British subjects in Siam and the construction of the southern railways lines. The main results of nearly ten years of negotiations (1900-1909) was that the Siamese Government transferred to the British Government all rights of suzerainty, protection, administration and control whatsoever which they possessed over the states of Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah and Perlis. In return, all British subjects in Siam, registered at the British Consulate before the date of the treaty came under the international court, which was composed of Siamses and British judges while the British Consul possessed the right of withdrawing cases to his own court. However, the jurisdiction of the International Courts should be transferred to the ordinary Siamese Courts after the promulgation and the coming into force of the Siamese codes, namely, the Penal Codes, the Civil and Commercial Code, the Codes of Procedure and the law for Organization of Courts. All other British subjects in Siam should be subject to the jurisdiction of the ordinary Siamese Courts. At the same time British subjects should enjoy rights and privileges, equally with the Siamese, namely, the right of property and the right of residence and travel.