MR. P. W. MACLEAN (Oxford, Woodstock)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether serious complaints have been made to Her Majesty's Government by a large number of British subjects resident in Siam, relative to the administration of justice in the Consular Court at Bangkok, in that country; whether, in default of the removal of the grounds of such complaints, such British subjects have asked that they may be placed under the protection of the Consul in Bangkok of some friendly European or American Power; and, whether, under these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government have taken, or propose to take, any steps to remove the cause of such complaints, if well founded?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY of STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Some complaints relative to the administration of justice in the Consular Court of Bangkok have been received at the Foreign Office. They appear to have originated with certain Englishmen in the employment of the Siamese Government. Inquiry has been made; but Her Majesty's Government do not consider that the complaints are well founded, and they do not propose to take any steps in the matter. It is hardly necessary that I should state that in countries such as Siam, where Her Majesty exercises by Treaty extra territorial jurisdiction, there can be no question of placing British subjects under the protection of the Consul of any other Power.