Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is part of the History of Malaysia series
Prehistoric Malaysia (40,000–2,000 BCE)
Gangga Negara (2nd–11th century CE)
Langkasuka (2nd–14th century)
Pan Pan (3rd–5th century)
Srivijaya (3rd century–1400)
Kedah Sultanate (1136–present)
Malacca Sultanate (1402–1511)
Sulu Sultanate (1450–1899)
Johor Sultanate (1528–current)
Jementah Civil War (1879)
White Rajahs (1841–1946)
British Malaya (1874–1946)
Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824
Burney Treaty (1826)
Straits Settlements (1826–1946)
Larut War (1861–1874)
Klang War (1867–1874)
Pangkor Treaty of 1874
Federated Malay States (1895–1946)
Unfederated Malay States (19th century–1946)
Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
Battle of Penang (1914)
North Borneo (1882–1963)
Mat Salleh Rebellion (1896–1900)
World War II (1941–1945)
Battle of Malaya (1941–42)
Parit Sulong Massacre (1942)
Battle of Singapore (1942)
Syburi (1942–1945)
Battle of North Borneo (1945)
Sandakan Death Marches (1945)
Malayan Union (1946–1948)
Federation of Malaya (1948–1963)
Malayan Emergency (1948–1960)
Bukit Kepong Incident (1950)
Independence Day (1957)
Federation of Malaysia (1963–present)
Operation Coldstore (1963)
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation (1962–1966)
Brunei Revolt (1962–1966)
Singapore in Malaysia (1963–1965)
1964 Race Riots (1964)
May 13 Incident (1969)
New Economic Policy (1971–1990)
Operation Lalang (1987)
1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis (1987–88)
Asian financial crisis (1997–98)
[edit this box]

The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 or Bangkok Treaty of 1909 was a treaty between the United Kingdom and Siam signed on March 10, 1909 in Bangkok.^[1] The agreement, in which the Malays were not represented, effectively dissected the northern Malay states into two parts. The area around modern Pattani, Narathiwat (Menara), Songkhla (Singgora), Satun (Setul) and Yala (Jala) remained under Siam, while Siam relinquished its claims to sovereignty over Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu to the United Kingdom. Originally, Setul and Perlis were part of Kedah. These four states, along with Johor later became known as the Unfederated Malay States.

The British logic for sanctioning the continued Siamese occupation of the remaining northern half of the Malaya was the perceived value of Siam as a friendly buffer against the French in Indochina.

Previously in 1826, both signees of the 1909 treaty agreed to the Burney Treaty. The Burney Treaty stated that Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu were Siamese provinces while Penang and Province Wellesly belonged to the British while Siam would not interfere with British trade in Kelantan and Terengganu.

This agreement as a long lasting effect on both Thailand and Federation of Malaysia. The border of these two countries is mainly drawn by this treaty. Moveover, to some extent, Pattani separatist movement is due to Pattani's refusal to recognize Siam's domination over it and ultimately the deal made between the United Kingdom and Siam.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Office of the Geographer, "International Boundary Study: Malaysia - Thailand Boundary," No. 57, 15 November 1965.