711.9212A/6
The Siamese Chargé (Virijakich) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 27.]
Sir: I have the honour to inform you that I have received from my Government a letter concerning the draft treaties of Arbitration and Conciliation which you had transmitted to me in your letter of July 31st last.
My Government welcomes the opportunity to promote the friendly relations between the two countries and to advance the cause of pacific settlement of international disputes. It has already entered into arrangements for such pacific settlements with many other Powers. It is the desire of my Government to secure wherever possible an unlimited treaty of arbitration rather than a limited treaty of arbitration and a treaty of conciliation. In the recent treaty of Friendship and Commerce between His Majesty’s Government and Italy,3 it is provided by Article 2 as follows:—
“The High Contracting Parties agree that in case any difference should arise between them which could not be settled by mutual agreement or by diplomatic means they will submit such difference to one or more arbitrators chosen by them or to the Permanent Court of International Justice at the Hague.
The latter will acquire jurisdiction over the matter either by means of a common agreement between the two Parties, or, in case of a failure to agree, by the simple request of either Party.”
A similar provision also appears in the recent treaty with France.4
My Government can conceive of no dispute or difference that might arise between the two countries which it would not on its part be willing to submit to arbitration. It, therefore, desires to suggest as a counter-proposal the negotiation of a single treaty of arbitration for all disputes of whatever nature in substance similar to those contained in its treaties with France and Italy. Since your Government has not adhered to the Statute of the World Court, His Majesty’s Government would be willing to accept as a competent tribunal the Permanent Court of Arbitration established at The Hague by the Convention of October 18, 1907.5
If this counter-proposal is not acceptable to your Government, His Majesty’s Government is willing to accept as a basis for further negotiations the draft treaties of Arbitration and of Conciliation submitted by the Government of the United States. There are, however, certain modifications in both drafts which my Government desires to secure.
[Page 761]As you are aware, Phya Vijitavongs has been transferred to a European post and a new Minister, His Serene Highness Prince Amoradat, will arrive in Washington sometime in May next. My Government, therefore, desires that further negotiations should await the arrival of His Serene Highness. Full instructions will be given to him before leaving Bangkok.
Accept [etc.]
- May 9, 1926; League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. lxi, p. 215.↩
- February 14, 1925; ibid., vol. xliii, p. 189.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1907, pt. 2, p. 1181.↩