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7
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1040
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Prince Devawongse to Mr. Paget.
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 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 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 purpose of the ordinary shipping engaged in the Malay Peninsula coasting trade.
Annex 4.
Prince Devawongse to Mr. Paget.
With reference to the provision contained in Article 4 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. Steward Black has made to this work.
