Page 207 - A History of Siam

A HISTORY OF SIAM
195
of the Menam River for a considerable time. Siam had
then no fleet of conclusions with the Dutch.
capable trying
Their demands were therefore and on
granted, August
loth (22nd N.S.), 1664, a Treaty was signed whereby
the Dutch obtained the sole of the trade in
monopoly
hides, and Siam undertook not to employ any Chinese
on her The term Chinese was defined as
ships. including
Japanese and Cochin-Chinese. As most of the sailors
on Siamese fell within this this clause
ships definition,
rendered it for Siam to with Holland
impossible compete
in the China trade.
But the most interesting provision of this Treaty is the
"
following : In case (which God forbid) any of the
Company's residents should commit a serious crime in
Siam, the King and the Judges shall not have the right
to judge him, but he must be handed over to the Com-
pany's Chief, to be punished according to the Netherlands
laws."
Here we have the germ of the system of extra-territorial
which has so a in
jurisdiction, occupied prominent place
the of modern Siam.
politics
King Narai, hoping to curb the arrogance of the Dutch,
began to think of cultivating the friendship of other
European Powers. The British East India Company
were disinclined to interfere in Siamese affairs ; there was
even a good deal of discussion as to the desirability 01
the at which was less
closing factory Ayut'ia, profitable
than had been was no for-
expected. Portugal longer
midable. There remained France. In 1662 Monsignor
de la Motte Lambert, Bishop of B&ythe, had arrived in
Siam. He was followed in 1664 by Monsignor Pallu,
of and other French mis-
Bishop Heliopolis, Jesuit
sionaries. The attention to these French
King paid great
when he learned that one of their
missionaries, particularly