The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXII, Part 1-2, 1984 - Khamkoo

THE 1902 SIAMESE -.KELAN1'AN TREATY 131
do with the power and position of the Adviser.Il 0
In his attempt to safeguard the
authority and the position of the ruling class of Trengganu, Sultan Zainal Abidin, on
his own initiative, submitted to King Chulalongkorn a draft of the Agreement ·to be
made between Trengganu and Siam, which aimed at the preservation of the traditional
relations at .the same time as making it hard for Siam to interfere directly in the internal
administration of Trengganu. In sum, here is a classic document which reflects, on
the one hand, the fear and concern of the Malay R~ler over the policy of Siam relative
to her Malay tributaries, yet~ on the other, the desire not to change the fundamental
elements of the. traditional ties, which, most of the time, had worked so well for the
Malay ruler, and adopt the administrative reform in the form of the Western-originated
Adviser system. 1 11 Since Siam was then under the obligation of the Exchange Notes
signed with Great Britain, the Siamese Government, which was likewise disenchanted
with the 1902 Treaty, found it more congenial not to press the Sultan to sign that
Treaty and kept an option open for the direct conclusion of the new Siamese-Trengganu
110. R. 5 M 62/90-101, Chulalongkorn to Suriya, op. cit., states that, "Phraya Trengganu
declined to sign the Treaty with Phra Kocha because he felt aversed to the Adviser system.
What he really desired was the similar system now in force in Johore. With this in mind,
he had sent Tengku Besar, his brother-in-law, who once acted as his Regent, together with
his letter to Bangkok . . . to present his case officially."
111. See the Draft sent by Sultan Zainal Abidin to Bangkok which was received on January 24,
·R.S. 121 (1903), NAT., which stated the following:
"Both parties undertake not to cede a part of, or the whole of, the State of Trengganu
to any other Power.
3. It is hereby re-affirmed that the Sultan of Trengganu is obligated to send the tribute of
Bunga mas [to Bangkok] once every three years.
4. . ... The Sultan of Trengganu undertakes not to conclude whatever agreement or to
.come into contact with any foreign government oi officials of a foreign government
without the prior consent of the Government of Siam.
5. . ... ·The Siamese Government undertake not to alter the already existing customs
concerning the appointment of the Ruler of Trengganu. Nor will they alter their
traditional authority in appointing the Sultan of Trengganu. The Siamese Government
undertake to select a candidate only from the Muslim Malay descents of Sultan Zainal
Abidin I to be appointed the Sultan of Trengganu.
6. . ... The Siamese Gevernment undertake not to interfere in the affairs concerning the
Malay customs. The Sultan of Trengganu is hereby recognised the sole authority over
the Malay customs and the Islamic religion throughout the State of Trengganu.
7. It rests solely upon the Sultan of Trenggimu the power to appoint and to terminate the
membership of the State Council only those who are the natives of Trengganu. In the
.case wherein the Sultan desires to appoint foreigner (s) to the position of State
Couni:lllor, the prior consent of the .Siamese Govex:nment·will have .to be secured."