Relationship Between Britain, Siam, And Malay States

Before Britain forces entered the Malay Peninsula, the Kingdom of Siam exerted profound influence and control in states of Malay Peninsula, especially in Kelantan and Terengganu. A tributary relationship was formed between Siam and the Malay States. Generally Siam did not intervened into the internal affairs of the Malay kingdom, but it required Malay States to pay a triennial tribute in the form of "Bunga Mas".Since 1786, the Britain seized Penang, Singapore and Malacca, and brought its forces to the Malay Peninsula. At this time, the Kingdom of Siam, which was in prosperity and stability, continued to expand its influence in the Malay Peninsula and conflicted with Britain interests in the Malay Peninsula. In order to prevent the expansion of Siam, the British government sent Burney to Bangkok and negotiated with Siam. At last the Britain and Siam signed "Burney Treaty", according to which Britain recognized Siamese suzerainty over Kelantan and Terengganu on conditions that they had rights to trade in those two states without Siamese interference. In the late 1830s, civil wars broke out in both of Kelantan and Terengganu, which gave Siam an opportunity to intervene into the change of throne in these two Malay States. The Siamese arranged the princes who were pro-Siamese to the throne. After the civil war, Kelantan and Siam still retained tributary relationship; while in Baginda Omar’s ruling, Terengganu became stabilized and began to get rid of the status as the vassal of Siam.In the late 19th century, a good relationship between Kelantan and Siam was still maintained by both sides, but after Duff Syndicate and Sultan of Kelantan signed agreement in early 20th century, this good relationship was put to an end. Terengganu struggled to get rid of Siamese control and get closer to the Britain. After the civil war in Pahang and the incidental Bombardment of Terengganu, the Britain recognized Terengganu as the vassal of Siam, and they rejected requirements of Baginda Omar to make Terengganu become a Britain vassal state. Although Siam was dissatisfied with the action of Terengganu, they did not impose any penalty upon Terengganu. Kelantan and Terengganu were independent in their internal affairs, but their foreign relations were controlled by Siam. When the Western powers wanted to establish diplomatic relations with them, they must acquire the consent of Siam.When the competition among western countries in Southeast Asia became increasingly intensive, Siam had to cede some of the its territorial interest and political influence to France and Britain in order to safeguard their independence and sovereignty. In the Peninsular of Malaysia, the United Kingdom took control of four Malay states while the remaining northern states were still the vassal states of Siam. In 1897, the Britain and Siam signed a secret agreement to prevent other Western forces out of the Malay Peninsula.Without the consent of Siam, Duff signed an agreement with Sultan of Kelantan to acquire land concession, which caused dissatisfaction from Siam. British Foreign Office decided to adopt Duffs opinions and pressured to Siam on recognizing this agreement. In 1902, the Britain and Siam signed a treaty which allowed the Siamese government to dispatch a advisor of British nationality to Kelantan and Terengganu. Subsequently, Kelantan accepted this treaty and advisor while Terengganu refused to accept this treaty.Because of financial problems, the states of Kedah and Perlis got under indirect rule by Britain. Since 1907, Britain officers negotiated with Siam again to discuss the transfer of Malay northern states. Since Siam hoped to obtain low-interest loans from Britain to build railways, it was willing to transfer sovereignty of Malay States to Britain. Eventually, both parties signed "The Treaty of Bangkok" in March 1909 which stipulated that the sovereignty of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu be transferred to the Britain. Since this treaty was signed without the participation of the Malay rulers, they got very angry after this treaty was announced.After Britain succeeded in placing an advisor in Kelantan, they started to reform the Kelantan administrative system. The process of land tax reform caused dissatisfaction among some of the landlords and they launched a peasant uprising against Britain at Pasir Puteh which was eventually quelled by the Britain. The British advisor had no real power in the surface, but their opinions and decisions were directly affecting the Kelantan executive, which means that their power was actually larger than Sultan and his minister.While Terengganu refused the Britain to place an advisor in their states, the Sultan finally accepted the placement of British agent in his states after being persuaded by the British office. In1911, Terengganu promulgated an constitution and established a modern administrative system. A few years later, the British agent complained that his mandate was too little in Terengganu and asked the Britain authorities to expand his power in Terengganu. As a result, the Britain organized a committee to investigate the local administration, security and concessions in 1918. The committee recommended the Britain authorities to place an adviser in Terengganu. In the following year, the new Sultan signed an agreement under Britain pressure to accept the placement of an advisor in his states, which marked complete domination of Britain over the Malay states on the Malay Peninsula.