Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Krasuang Kan Tang Prathet; In 1875 until 1933 as Krasuang Tang Prathet) is the principal governmental department in charge of foreign relations for Thailand. The ministry is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also a member of the Cabinet of Thailand. The minister is appointed by the prime minister. The ministry is charged with formulating and executing foreign policies for the Kingdom of Thailand. The ministry manages and maintains Thai diplomatic missions around the globe.
==1875-present==
Prior to the creation of the ministry, much of the country's foreign relations were handled by the absolute monarchs of the day. During the Kingdom of Ayutthaya foreign relations were handled by the Krom Phra Khlang or the Treasury Department. The head of the department was known as Phra Khlang and occasionally referred to as "Berguelang" or Barcelon by foreign authors. The famous 17th-century Siamese ambassador to France Kosa Pan was the younger brother of King Narai's Phra Khlang Kosathibodi. Soon after, a sub-department called Kromma Tha or Port Department was created to deal with foreigners.
During the Bangkok Period most of these features were retained. For instance, the Chau Phaya-Phraklang in his capacity as Minister of State on behalf of Jessadabodindra[1] negotiated the Siamese-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1833 with Edmund Roberts in his capacity as Minister of the United States on behalf of President Andrew Jackson.
In 1840, King Mongkut, the next king, founded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Siam, which was administered directly by the king. The responsibilities and roles of the old Krom were shifted to this ministry. Chao Phraya Bhanuwong became the first Foreign Minister of Siam in 1871, appointed by King Chulalongkorn. In 1881 Prince Devavongse Varoprakarn was appointed to replace him. Known today as the father of Thai diplomacy he reorganized and modernized the ministry to meet 19th century standards. The ministry was then permanently established at Saranrom Palace, east of the Grand Palace. The ministry was divided into seven divisions:
*Senabodi Division (Ministerial Division)
*Under-Secretary Division
*Translation Division
*Reception Division
*Accounts Division
*Filing Division
*Diplomatic Division
*Consular Division
Foreign affairs advisers
From 1892 to 1924, the Siamese government retained the professional legal services of lawyers skilled in international law.
Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, an international legal scholar, served as Adviser-General from 1892 to 1902.
Edward Strobel, a Harvard Law School Bemis Professor of International Law, served as American Adviser-General from 1906 until his death in 1908. He was followed by Harvard Law Professors Jens Westengard, Francis B. Sayre and Eldon James
Reorganization
After the Revolution of 1932, the ministry came under civilian control and the minister was made a member of the constitutional government of Siam. The first minister under this new system was Phraya Sri Visarn Vacha.
Category:Thailand
Category:Thai Government
Category:Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)
Category:International