HC Deb 21 July 1909 vol 8 cc504-5
Sir WILLIAM COLLINS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Anglo-Siamese Treaty has been ratified; whether the suzerain rights of Siam over the State of Kedah have been formally taken over by the representatives of His Majesty's Government; whether the integrity of the State of Kedah is secured under the treaty; and whether he will lay Papers relating to communications which have passed in reference to the position of Kedah and the transfer of the suzerainty of that State from Siam to Great Britain?

The UNDER-SECRETARY for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. T. McKinnon Wood)

The treaty was ratified on July 9th, and the formal transfer has now been effected. The integrity of the State of Kedah is not affected by the new treaty, Article 1 of which merely transfers to the British Government all rights of suzerainty, protection, administration, and control over the transferred territories hitherto possessed by the Government of Siam. It is not proposed to lay any Papers in addition to Cd. 4646.

Sir W. COLLINS

May I take it that no transaction arising out of the treaty would prejudicially affect the State of Kedah?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

That is so.