Type Treaty Signed 14 April 1836 | Drafted 20 March 1833 Effective 24 June 1837 | |
Location Royal City of Sia-Yut'hia (commonly called Bangkok) Negotiators Chau Phaya-Phraklang, Minister of State
Edmund Roberts, Minister of the United States of America | ||
The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Siam and the United States, or Roberts Treaty of 1833, was negotiated by Edmund Roberts in his capacity as Minister of the United States on behalf of President Andrew Jackson, with the Chau Phaya-Phraklang in his capacity as Minister of State on behalf of His Majesty the Sovereign and Magnificent King in the City of Sia-Yut'hia (later known as Rama III.) The treaty, in Thai and English, together with translations in Portuguese and Chinese, was concluded on Wednesday, the last of the fourth month of the year 1194, called Pi-marong-chat-tavasok, or the year of the Dragon, corresponding to the 20th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1833, at the Royal City of Sia-Yut'hia, (commonly called Bangkok.) pending final Ratification of the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Ratification was advised and ratified 30 June 1834, exchanged 14 April 1836 and proclaimed 24 June 1837.
Roberts' first embassy arrived 18 February 1833 on the US Sloop-of-war Peacock, and was presented to His Majesty 18 March. Peacock returned on the second embassy, along with Dr. W. S. W. Ruschenberger, for exchange of ratifications 14 April 1836.
Treaty Article II stipulates free trade with few limitations; Article III, a measurement duty in lieu of import and export duties, tonnage, licence to trade, or any other charge whatever; Article IV (and X,) for most favored nation status; and Article V, relief for US citizens in cases of shipwreck. Article VI introduces early US concepts of bankruptcy protection. Article VIII provides that US citizens taken by pirates and brought within the kingdom, be set at liberty and their property restored.
The terms were modified by the Harris Treaty of 1856. As subsequently modified, the treaty is still in force.
The treaty potentially granted the Americans much better terms than the British had obtained in their treaty of 1826. Though treaty provisions are not as generous as those of the British Bowring treaty, the "most favored nation clauses" eased negotiation of the Harris modification to the treaty concluded a month later.
After the reign of King Rama V, the sensitive position of advisor on foreign affairs would be given to Americans and not to either English or French nationals.