Directory_and_Chronicle_1911 — Page 295

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TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND SIAM

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Art. IV.-British subjects are permitted to trade freely in all the seaports of Siam but may reside permanently only at Bangkok, or within the limits assigned by this Treaty. British subjects coming to reside at Bangkok may rent land, buy or build 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. 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 of 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 recessary 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.

Act. 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, call 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 Siani 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 t'e 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. VII-British ships of war may enter the river and anchor at Paknam, but they shall not proceed above Paknamn, 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 to Siam a public functionary accredited by Her Majesty's Government to the Court of Bangkok shall be allowed to come up to Baugkok, but ball not pass the forts called Pong Phrachamit and Pit-patch-nuck, unless expressly permitted to do so by the Siamese Government; but in the absence of a British ship of war, the Siamese authorities engage to furnish the Consul with a force sufficient to enable him to give effect to his authority over British subjects, and to enforce discipline among British shipping.

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