Bowring Treaty

Bowring Treaty

United Kingdom-Siam [1855]
      (1855), agreement between Siam (Thailand) and Britain that achieved commercial and political aims that earlier British missions had failed to gain and opened up Siam to Western influence and trade.

      The treaty lifted many restrictions imposed by Thai kings on foreign trade. It set a 3 percent duty on all imports and permitted British subjects to trade in all Thai ports, to own land near Bangkok, and to move freely about the country. In addition, it granted extraterritoriality (exemption from the jurisdiction of Thai authorities) to British subjectsa privilege which, in time, proved so irritating that its removal became a chief goal of Thai policy.

      Sir John Bowring's (Bowring, Sir John) success in establishing the treaty resulted in part from his being an envoy of the British government, rather than a representative of commercial interests. Unlike previous missions, sent under the auspices of the British East India Company, Bowring represented the government of Britain as a whole, not merely its local Indian and Malayan trade concerns.

      The Bowring Treaty ushered in a new era in Siam's foreign relations. The progressive king Mongkut (Rama IV) recognized that the expansion of British power and the decline of traditional Asian powers required new policies. The treaty was followed by a succession of similar agreements between Siam and many European powers, the United States, and Japan. Mongkut's policies, though costing Siam a degree of legal and fiscal independence, spared the country the military incursions and colonial subjugation other Southeast Asian states experienced.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bowring Treaty — The Bowring Treaty is the name given to an agreement signed on April 18, 1855 between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Siam that liberalized foreign trade in Siam. The Treaty was signed by King Mongkut of Siam and Sir John Bowring, Governor… …   Wikipedia

  • Bowring — ist der Name folgender Personen Benjamin Bowring (1778–1846), englisch kanadischer Uhrmacher, Juwelier und Geschäftsmann Charles R. Bowring (1840–1890), kanadischer Politiker Eva Kelly Bowring (1892–1985), Senatorin des US Bundesstaates Nebraska …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bowring-Vertrag — Der Vertrag, auf Thai, war schwarz Bücher geschrieben, bevor sie in das Britische Empire für die Anbringung seiner Dichtung geschickt. Der Bowring Vertrag (engl. Bowring Treaty) ist ein Abkommen, welches am 18. April 1855 zwischen dem Vereinigten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bowring, Sir John — ▪ British diplomat born October 17, 1792, Exeter, Devonshire, England died November 23, 1872, Claremont, near Exeter  English author and diplomat who was prominent in many spheres of mid Victorian public life.       Bowring early became… …   Universalium

  • John Bowring — Infobox Governor name=Sir John Bowring width=180px height=220px caption=John Bowring in 1826 order=4th office=Governor of Hong Kong term start=13 April 1854 term end=9 September 1859 lieutenant= predecessor=Sir George Bonham successor=Hercules… …   Wikipedia

  • John Bowring — John Bowring. Sir John Bowring KCB (* 17. Oktober 1792 in Exeter; † 23. November 1872 in Claremont bei Exeter) war ein britischer Staatsmann, Reisender, Schriftsteller und Polyglott …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mongkut — Not to be confused with Vajiravudh (reigning title Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua). Rama IV redirects here. For the fourth book in the Rama series, see Rama Revealed. Mongkut King Rama IV …   Wikipedia

  • Thailand — /tuy land , leuhnd/, n. 1. Formerly, Siam. a kingdom in SE Asia: official name of Siam 1939 45 and since 1949. 59,450,818; 198,242 sq. mi. (513,445 sq. km). Cap.: Bangkok. 2. Gulf of. Also called Gulf of Siam. an arm of the South China Sea, S of… …   Universalium

  • Pinklao — For the ship HTMS Pin Klao, see USS Hemminger (DE 746). Pinklao Front Palace Pinklao in western style Naval Uniform Second King of Siam …   Wikipedia

  • Chulalongkorn — This article is about the King of Siam. For the university named after him, see Chulalongkorn University. Chulalongkorn the Great King Rama V King of Siam …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
https://universalium.en-academic.com/260384/Bowring_Treaty Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”