Treaty of friendship and commerce between Great Britain and Siam/General regulations

General Regulations under which British Trade is to be conducted in Siam.

Regulation I.

The master of every English ship coming to Bangkok to trade, must, either before or after entering the river, as may be found convenient, report the arrival of his vessel at the custom-house at Paknam, together with the number of his crew and guns, and the port from whence he comes. Upon anchoring his vessel at Paknam, he will deliver into the custody of the custom-house officers all his guns and ammunitions, and a custom-house officer will then be appointed to the vessel, and will proceed in her to Bangkok.

Regulation II.

A vessel passing Paknam without discharging her guns and ammunitions as directed in the foregoing regulation, will be sent back to Paknam to comply with its provisions, and will be fined 800 ticals for having so disobeyed. After delivery of her guns and ammunitions she will be permitted to return to Bangkok to trade.

Regulation III.

When a British vessel shall have cast anchor at Bangkok, the master, unless a Sunday should intervene, will, within four and twenty hours after arrival, proceed to the British Consulate, and deposit there his ships's papers, bills of lading, &c., together with a true manifest of his import cargo; and upon the Consul's reporting these particulars to the custom-house, permission to break bulk will at once be given by the latter.

For neglecting so to report his arrival, or for presenting a false manifest, the master will subject himself, in each instance, to a penalty of 400 ticals; but he will be allowed to correct, within twenty-four hours after delivery of it to the Consul, any mistake he may discover in his manifest, without incurring the above-mentioned penalty.

Regulation IV.

A British vessel breaking bulk, and commencing to discharge before due permission shall be obtained, or smuggling either when in the river or outside the bar, shall be subject to the penalty of 800 ticals, and confiscation of the goods so smuggled or discharged.

Regulation V.

As soon as a British vessel shall have discharged her cargo, and completed her outward lading, paid all her duties, and delivered a true manifest of her outward cargo to the British Consul, a Siamese port-clearance shall be granted her on application from the Consul, who, in the absence of any legal impediment to her departure, will then return to the master his ship's papers, and allow the vessel to leave. A custom-house officer will accompany the vessel to Paknam; and on arriving there she will be inspected by the custom-house officers of that station, and will receive from them the guns and ammunition previously delivered into their charge.

Regulation VI.

Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary having no knowledge of the Siamese language, the Siamese Government have agreed that the English text of these Regulations, together with the Treaty of which they from a portion, and the Tariff hereunto annexed, shall be accepted as conveying in every respect their true meaning and intention.

John Bowring.
(L.S.)
(Signatures and seals of the five Siamese Plenipotentiaries.)