Anglo-Siamese Treaty 1909

 

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OFFICIAL IDOCUMENTS 297

personwho,sincethecommissionof the crimeor offensoef whichhe is
accused,or forwhichhe has beenconvictedh, as becomenaturalizedin
thecountrywhencethesurrenderis sought,suchnaturalizationshall not
preventthepursuit,arrest,and extraditionof,zuchperson,in conformity
withthestipulationsof thepresenttreaty.

ARTICLE 2.

The presentconventionshall be ratified,and the ratificationesx-
changedat Paris as soonas possible.
It shall becomeeffectivteen daysafterits promulgationin the form
requiredbythelegislationoftherespectivecountriesa,nd shall havethe
sameforceand thesame durationas thetreatyto whichit relates.
In faith whereof,the respectiveplenipotentiariehs ave signed the
presentconventionand attachedtheirseals thereto.
Done at Paris, in duplicate,the 17thof October,1908.

[L. S.] S. PICHON.

[L. S.] FRANCIS BERTIE.

TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND SIAM.1

Signed at Bangkok,March 10, 1909.

His majestythe king of the United Kingdomof Great Britain and
Irelandand oftheBritishdominionsbeyondtheseas,Emperorof India,
and hismajestythekingof Siam,beingdesirousofsettlingvariousques-
tionswhichhavearisenaffectintgheirrespectivedominionsh, avedecided
to concludea treaty,and have appointedforthispurposeas theirpleni-
potentiaries:

His majestythe kingof GreatBritain,Ralph Paget, Esq., his envoy
extraordinaraynd ministerplenipotentiarye,tc.;

His majestythekingof Siam, his royalhighnessPrinceDevawongse
Varoprakarm, inisterforforeignaffairse,tc.;

Who, afterhavingcommunicatedto each othertheirrespectivefull
powers,and foundthemto be in good and due form,have agreedupon
and concludedthefollowingarticles:

'Text fromBritish Blue Book, Siam, No. 1 (1909), [Cd. 4646].

298 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

ARTICLE 1.
The Siamesegovernmenttransfertso theBritishgovernmenatll rights
of suzeraintyp, rotectiona,dministrationa,nd controlwhatsoeverwhich
theypossessoverthe statesof Kelantan,Tringganu,Kedah, Perlis,and
adjacent islands. The frontierosf theseterritorieasre definedbv the
boundaryprotocolannexedhereto.

ARTICLE 2.
The transferprovidedfor in the precedingarticleshall take place
withinthirtydaysafterthe ratificationof thistreaty.

ARTICLE 3.
A mixed commissionc,omposedof Siamese and Britishofficialasnd
officers,hall be appointedwithinsix monthsafterthe date of ratifica-
tionofthistreatya,nd shallbe chargedwiththedelimitationofthenew
frontier. The workof the commissionshall be commencedas soon as
the season permits,and shall be carriedout in accordancewith the
boundaryprotocolannexedhereto.
Subjectsof his majestythekingof Siam residingwithintheterritory
describedin article1 who desireto preservetheirSiamese nationality
will,duringtheperiodof six monthsaftertheratificatioonf thepresent
treaty,be allowed to do so if theybecomedomiciledin the Siamese
dominions. His Britannicmajesty'sgovernmentundertakethat thev
shallbe at libertyto retaintheirimmovablepropertywithintheterritory
describedin article1.
It is understoodthat in accordancewiththe usual customwherea
changeof suzeraintytakesplace, any concessionswithinthe territories
describedin article1 hereofto individualsor companies,grantedby or
withtheapprovalofthe Siamesegovernmenta,nd recognizedbythemas
stillin forceon thedateofthesignatureofthetreatyw, illbe recognized
bythegovernmenotf his Britannicmajesty.

ARTICLE 4.
His Britannicmajesty'sgovernmenutndertakethatthegovernmenotf
theFederatedMalay Statesshallassumetheindebtednestso the Siamese
governmenotftheterritoriedsescribedin article1.

ARTICLE 5.
The jurisdictionof the Siamese InternationalCourts,establishedby
article8 of thetreatyof the 3rd September1, 883, shall,underthecon-

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS 299

ditionsdefinedin thejurisdictionprotocoalnnexedheretob, e extendedto
all Britishsubjectsin Siam registeredat the Britishconsulatesbefore
thedate of thepresenttreaty.

This systemshall cometo an end, and the jurisdictionof the Inter-
nationalCourtsshallbe transferretdo theordinarySiamesecourtsafter
thepromulgatioannd thecomingintoforceoftheSiamesecodes,namely,
the penal code,the civil and commerciaclodes,the codesof procedure,
and thelaw fororganizationofcourts.

All otherBritishsubjectsin Siam shall be subjectto thejurisdiction
of the ordinarySiamese courtsunder the conditionsdefinedin the
jurisdictionprotocol.

ARTICLE 6.

Britishsubjectsshall enjoythroughouthe wholeextentof Siam the
rightsand privilegesenjoyedby the nativesof the countryn, otablythe
rightofpropertytrh,erightof residenceand travel.

Theyand theirpropertyshall be subjectto all taxesand servicesb, ut
theseshallnotbe otherorhigherthanthetaxesand serviceswhichare or
maybe imposedby law on Siamese subjects. It is particularlyunder-
stoodthatthelimitationin the agreementof the 20thSeptember1, 900,
by whichthe taxationof land shall not exceedthat on similarland in
LowerBurmah,is herebyremoved.

Britishsubjectsin Siam shall be exemptfromall militaryservice,
eitherin thearmyornavy,and fromall forcedloansormilitaryexactions
or contributions.

ARTICLE 7.

The provisionsof all treaties,agreementsa,nd conventionsbetween
GreatBritainand Siam, not modifiedby the presenttreatyremainin
fullforce.

ARTICLE 8.

The presenttreatyshall be ratifiedwithinfourmonthsfromits date.
In witnesswhereofthe respectiveplenipotentiariehsave signed the
presenttreatyand affixedtheirseals.
Done at Bangkok,in duplicate,the 10th day of March,in the year
1909.
[Signed] RALPH PAGET.

[SEA Li

rSigned] DEVAWONGSE VAROPRARAR.

[SEAL]

300 THE AMERilUCAN JOURNAL O INTERNATIONAL LAW

Boundaryprotocolannexedto thetreatydatedMarch10, 1909.
The frontierbsetweenthe territorieosf his majestythe kingof Siam
and theterritoroyverwhichhis suzerainrightshavebythepresenttreaty
beentransferretdo his majestythekingof GreatBritainand Irelandare
as follows:
Commencingfromthe most seawardpoint of the northernbank of
the estuaryof the Perlis Riverand thencenorthto the range of hills
whichis thewatershedbetweenthe Perlis Riveron theone side anidthe
Pujoh Riveron the other;thenfollowingthe watershedformedby the
said rangeof hills untilit reachesthe main watershedor dividingline
betweenthoseriverswhichflowinto the Gulf of Siam on the one side
and intothe Indian Ocean on the other;followingthismain watershed
so as to pass the sourcesof the Sungei Patani, Sungei Telubin, and
SungeiPerak,to a pointwhichis thesourceofthe Sungei Pergau; then
leavingthemainwatershedand goingalongthewatershedseparatingthe
watersof theSungei Pergau fromthe Sungei Telubin,to thehill called
BukitJeliorthesourceofthemainstreamoftheSungeiGolok. Thence
thefrontierfollowsthethalwegof themain streamof theSungei Golok
to thesea at a place calledKuala Tabar.
This line will leave thevallevsof the Sungei Patani, Sungei Telubin,
and Sungei Tanjung Mas and thevalleyon theleftor westbankof the
Golokto Siain and thewholevalleyofthePerak Riverand thevalleyon
therightor eastbankofthe Golokto GreatBritain.
Subjectsof each of the partiesmaynavigatethe wholeof the waters
oftheSungeiGolokand its affluents.
The islandknownas Pulo Langkawi,togetherwithall theisletssouth
ofmid-channebletweenTerutauand Langkawiand all theislandssouth
ofLangkawishallbecomeBritish. Terutauand theisletsto thenorthof
mid-channeslhallremainto Siam.
Withregardto the islandsclose to the westcoast,thoselyingto the
northof the parallel of latitudewherethe mostseawardpoint of the
northbankoftheestuaryofthePerlisRivertouchesthesea shallremain
to Siam,and thoselyingto thesouthofthatparallelshallbecomeBritish.
All islandsadjacentto theeasternstatesof Kelantanand Tringganu,
southof a parallel of latitudedrawnfromthe pointwherethe Sungei
Golokreachesthecoastat a place calledKuala Tabar shallbe transferred
to GreatBritain,and all islandsto thenorthofthatparallelshallremain
to Siam.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS 301

A roughsketchoftheboundaryhereindescribedis annexedhereto.2
2. The above-describebdoundaryshall be regardedas final,bothby
the governmenotf his Britannicmajestyand that of Siam, and they
mutuallyundertakethat,so far as the boundaryeffectsany alteration
of the existingboundariesof any state or province,no claim forcom-
pensationon thegroundof suchalterationmadebyanystateorprovince
so affectedshallbe entertainedor supportedbyeither.
3. It shall be the dutyof the boundarycommissionp, rovidedfor in
article3 of the treatyof this date, to determineand eventuallymark
out thefrontierabovedescribed.
If duringthe operationsof delimitationit shouldappear desirableto
departfromthefrontieras laid downherein,suchrectificatiosnhall not
underanycircumstancebse madeto theprejudiceof theSiamesegovern-
ment.
In witnesswhereofthe respectiveplenipotentiariehsave signed the
presentprotocoland affixedtheirseals.
Done at Bangkok,in duplicate,the 10th day of March,1909.3

[Signed] RALPH PAGET.

[SEAL]

[Signed] DEVAWONGSE VAROPRAKAR.

[SEAL]

2Not printed here; for map see document cited in note 1.
3 In connection with the above treaty the following notes, exchanged on the
day of the signature of the treaty, should be read:

MR. PAGET TO PRINCE DEVAWONGSE.

March 10, 1909.
M. LE MINISTRE,

In view of the position of British possessions in the Malay Peninsula a.nd of
the contiguity of the Siamese Malay provinces with British-protectedterritory,
his majesty's governmentare desirous of receiving an assurance that the Siamese
governmentwill not permit any danger to arise to British interests throughthe
use of any portion of the Siamese dominions in the peninsula for military or
naval purposes by foreignpowers.

His majesty's governmentwould thereforerequest that the Siamese govern-
ment shall not cede or lease, directly or indirectly,to any foreign government
any territorysituated 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 harbors, the occupation of which would be likely to be

802 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Protocol concerningthe jurisdiction applicable in the Kingdom of Siam
to British subjects and annexed to the treatydated March 10, 1909.

SECTION1. InternationalCourtsshall be establishedat such places
as may seem desirablein the interestsof the good administrationof
justice; theselectionof theseplaces shall formthe subjectof an under-
standingbetweentheBritishministerat Bangkokand the Siamesemin-
isterforforeignaffairs.

SECTION 2. The jurisdictionof the InternationalCourts shall ex-
tend -

1. In civil matters:to all civil and commerciaml attersto whicl
Britishsubjectsshall be parties.

2. In penal matters:to breachesof law of evervkind whether
committedby Britishsubjectsor to theirinjury.

prejudicial to British interests from a strategic point of view, shall not be
granted to any foreigngovernmentor 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.

[Signed] RALPH PAGET.

PRINCE DEVAWONGSE TO MR. PAGET.

Foreign Office,Bangkok, March 10, 1909.

M. LE MINISTRE,

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note of this date, in which
you express the desire of your governmentthat the Siamese governmentshall
not cede or lease, directlyor indirectly,to any foreigngovernmentany territory
situated in the Malay Peninsula south of the southernboundary of the Monthon
of 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 harbors,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
foreigngovernmentor company.

In reply, I beg to say that the Siamese governmentgives its assurance to the
above effect,taking note that the phrase "coaling station" shall not include
such small deposits of coal ax may be required for the purposes of the ordinary
shipping engaged in the Malay Peninsula coasting trade.

I avail, etc.,

[Signed] DEVAWONGSE,

Minister for Foreign Affairs.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS 303

SECTION 3. The rightof evocationin the InternationalCourtsshall
be exercisedin accordancewiththeprovisionsof article8 of the treaty
of the3rd September1, 883.

The rightof evocationshall cease to be exercisedin all matterscom-
ingwithinthescopeofcodesorlawsregularlypromulgatedas soonas the
textof suchcodesor laws shall have beencommunicatedto the British
legationin Bangkok. There shall be an understandingbetweenthe
ministryforforeignaffairsand the Britishlegationat Bangkokforthe
disposalof cases pendingat the timethat the said codes and laws are
communicated.

SECTION 4. In all cases,whetherin theInternationaCl ourtsor in the
ordinarySiamese courts in which a British subject is defendantor
accused,a Europeanlegal advisershall sit in thecourtof firstinstance.

In cases in whicha Britishbornor naturalizedsubjectnot ofAsiatic
descentmaybe a party,a Europeanadvisershall sit as a judge in the
courtof firstinstance,and wheresuch Britishsubjectis defendantor
accusedtheopinionof theadvisershall prevail.

A Britishsubjectwhois in thepositionofdefenidanotr accusedin any
case arisingin theprovincesmayapplyfora changeofvenue,and should
the courtconsidersuchchangedesirablethe trialshall take place either
at Bangkokor beforethe judge in whosecourtthe case wouldbe tried
at Bangkok. Noticeof anysuchapplicationshallbe givento theBritish
consularofficer.

SECTION 5. Article9 of the treatyof the 3rd September,1883, is
repealed.

Appeals againstthe decisionsof the internationaclourtsof firstin-
stance shall be adjudged by the Siamese courtof appeal at Bangkok.
Notice of all such appeals shall be communicatedto his Britannic
majesty'sconsul,whoshallhavetherightto givea writtenopinionupon
thecase to be annexedto therecord.

The judgmenton appeal fromeitherthe internationaclourtsor the
ordinarySiamesecourtsshall bearthesignatureof twoEuropeanjudges.

SECTION 6. An appeal on a questionoflaw shalllie fromthecourtof
appeal at Bangkokto the supremeor Dika court.

SECT5ION7. No plea of want of jurisdictionbased on the rules pre-
scribedby the presenttreatyshall be advancedin any courtaftera
defenceon themainissuehas beenoffered.

SECTION8. In orderto preventdifficultiewshichmayarise in future
fromthetransferof jurisdictioncontemplatedbythepresenttreatyand
protocoli,t is agreed

304 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

(a) All cases in whichactionshall be takensubsequentlyto the
date of the ratificationof this treatyshall be enteredand decided
in thecompetentInternationaol r SiameseCourt,whetherthecause
of actionarosebeforeor afterthe date of ratification.
(b) All cases pendingin his Britannicmajesty'scourtsin Siam
on the date of the ratificationof this treatyshall take theirusual
coursein suchcourtsand in anyappeal courtuntilsuchcases have
been finallydisposed of, and the jurisdictionof his Britannic
majesty'scourtsshallremainin fullforceforthispurpose.
The executionof the judgmentrenderedin any such pendingcase
shall be carriedout bythe InternationaCl ourts.
In witnesswhereofthe respectiveplenipotentiariehsave signed the
presentprotocoland affixedtheirseals.
Done at Bangkok,in duplicate,the 10thday of March,1909.'
[Signed]
RALPH PAGET.

[Signed] [SEAL] DEVAWONGSE VAROPRAKAR.

[SEAL]

4 In connectionwith the above protocol the following notes, exchanged on the
date of its signature, should be read:

PRINCEDEVAWONGSTEO MR. PAGET.
Foreign Office,Bangkok, March 10, 1909.

M. LE MINISTRE,
With reference to the provision contained in article 4 of the jurisdiction

protocol to the effectthat 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 modificationof or
release from this guarantee when it shall be no longer needed; and, moreover,
that in any negotiations in connection with such a modificationor release the
matter may be treated upon its merits alone, and not as a consideration for
which some other returnshould be expected.

The Siamese governmentappreciates that a treaty like the one signed to-day
marks an advance in the administration of justice in the kingdom. The con-
clusion of such a treaty is in itself a sign of progress. It is the intention
of the Siamese governmentto 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.

1 wish also to say that provision will be made for the treatmentof European