New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-23
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM SIAM.
pvsu Our SPECIAL ccrcsycnasps At Pens 80 ,o~.
PARIS Monday, July z, 1860.

ne Kiap6om Of siam, where ne nas rcsiucu Sow
anal Years, who brings highly important informa-
lion from that country. This gentleman came
N the overland route in company With the
British Consul PaIkes, who carries dispatches
10 his Government.
The Kingdom of Siam, as the readers OF THE
TRIBUNE are no doubt aware, has always, Ike
japan, been almost completely closed to fsteisn
commercial intercourse. In the yea 1888, Mr..
Roberts, az Envoy from tse United STATES, Sc
cured q treaty with .he pre- decessor Of the pre'-
spt King, a man exceedingly jealous OF Tor
siepers, By which the ports OF Siam were opened
10 American ships, but on terms so absurd as 10
sdectuslly neutrslize any practical fe'a's' that
might have been derived from 1t. All shlp' en-
terins the ports of Siam were TO pay q tunnage
duty of about one thousand dollars per Jafhoms
I,sadh oftAe ship, measured at the poias OF her
,.,csst diameter, sbd without regard TO the
weight or extent OF the cargo; so that ship in
ballast paid as much tax az ship heavily laden.
The result tas been that for fifteen year. no
American ship has even visited the Kingdom of
Sism.
In November last an arrangement was made
between Mr. McLane United States Commits
sioner to China, aud Sir John Bowcing, Gov
ernor Of Hong Kong, to proceed together TO
Siam TO attempt the formation OF commercial
treaty which should open the ports Of that coun-
try TO the ships Of the commercial nations The
French Minister at Canton was invited 10 join
the expedition, but VAS compelled &c decline on
account of difficult es which then demanded his
10 oof az IN haa a xY.a-
ajtion should have started, Mr.. McLane changed
his mind and came to Paris, with view of en-
listing the french and English Cabinets in pro-
iects which he no doubt deemed of higher i'm
portance. and waloh have already been noticed
in THE TRIBUNE.
Later on, Sir John BoTriDg determined to
narry out alone for Great Britain the con-
templated project, which had been conceived in
the interest of the three nations and arriving
in Siam on the % of April, on board the British
war. steamer Rather, he met with reception
which is represented as being every way more
brilliant more cordial, and attended with more
pomp than was that of Commodore Perry in
Japan. Before the 10Th Of the month, at which
date his Excellency left, he had concluded with
the Government Of Siam highly important
commercial treaty, which secures to Great
Britain the following advantages:
l. The old sbsure measurement tanuage duty
has been abolished, and duty of per cent on
all import cargoes substituted in its stead.
9. The right of residence, with permission to
purchase lands within certain lmits-a privilege
heretofore quite out Of the q1estiOn-has been
granted
3. A British Consul TO protect and cootrOl
British subjects, and to carry out the provisions
of the treaty, will be allowed to reside at
Bangkok, the capital.
4. The exportaton Of rice and teak wood.
heretofore prohibited, will be allowed.
8. 1t is provided that there shall be no inter
ference in matters of trade between the buyer
and seller, the producer and the merchant.
Als, that there shall in no case be more than
one tax collected, whether in the interior or at
the place OF expectation, on any article of ex-
port-prOvsions which break up completely the
odious monopoIies which have so long cripplea
the industry and development of the country.
Before the arrival of Sir John b wiring in
siam it was supposed by the few foreigners re-
siding there (who are all missionares) that
such treaty as has been made or such a recep-
tion rs was given to the British Envoy was
tirely impossible, and it was with establishment
that they saw The cordiality of his Excellency's
reception and the liberaity of the treaty which
he was at once enabled to conclude. This
treaty is equivalent to an opening of this rich,
fertile and extensive country 10 free CONNER
eial intercourse with Great Britain, .nd practi-
cally with the rest of the world, for the other
commercial nations have only to make Oyertures
in order to obtain the same advantages as the
British. No time should therefore be lost by
the United States Government in sending a
diplomatic agent to Bangkok, accompanied by a
newly appointed Consul, ready to enter upon
the dates of his Office. Rice Can be bought in
Siam in any quantity required at half cent a
pound, and commands ready sale in China at a
handsome advan &c upon that sum; aud there are
plenty of American vessels in the China seas
which would gladly enter at once into that trade.
The gentleman who furnished me this inform =
tion is thoroughly acquaiated with the country
has had many personal interviews With the King,
and acted as interpreter in the interviews OF Sir
John Bowrng with the King and his Ministers,
in the formation Of the new treaty lie says that
the population of the kingdom is variously esti-
mated at from three to FIVE millions, that the
soil is fertile, and that if the resources of the
soil and climate were developed, the country
would abound in all the production. of the warm
ATTITUDES Of the East The present soverei IN
and his younger brother, who reigns with MIN
under the tide of Second King, DO speak the