The Times of Thursday publishes a letter from a corre-
spondent about the prospects of a new British Treaty with Siam. Negotiations for the new Treaty have been going on for some time, and it is said that by the proposed arrangement Siam would cede to Britain the States of Kelantan, Treng- ganu, Kedah, and possibly other districts in the Malay Peninsula. It has long seemed desirable to have a symmetrical group of possessions under the efficient British authorities of the Malay Peninsula, but much depends upon what concessions
Siam would expect us to make in return. It is said that Siam asks us to consent to modifications of our extra- territorial rights in the case of Asiatics in Siam who are British subjects, and even in the case of British subjects of British birth. This would mean that British subjects would be amenable to the Siamese Courts of Law, which are notoriously corrupt and inadequate. We agree with. the Times, however, in thinking that Sir Edward Grey and Mr. Morley will not consent to purchase territory at that price.
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