France colonised Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Why did France not continue this movement towards the west and colonise Thailand?
Because there was another colonial power on the other side if Thailand!
The UK had colonised India, Burma, and Malaysia (previously known as Malaya).
France was on one side of Thailand, while the UK was on the other side of Thailand.
Both colonial powers had ambitions to take as much land as the could, but neither of them wanted to go to war against another colonial power.
France could try to take Thailand, but the French knew the British would not be happy to see such an expansion.
The UK could try to take Thailand, but the British knew the French would not be happy to see such an expansion.
In this situation, a silent deal was arranged.
“If I cannot have it, you cannot have it, either.”
This silent deal means that neither France nor the UK can take it.
This is why Thailand was allowed to remain as an independent buffer between the French colonies in the East and the British colonies in the west.
PS. The French did not respect the silent deal completely.
In 1893, there was a conflict known as the Paknam Incident. But the French plan to expand failed.
In 1903 they tried again. But the plan did not work. Thailand fought back. France had to give up this attempt to expand in 1905.
This happened in the area where the city of Chanthaburi is located.
Chanthaburi in the eastern part of Thailand should not be confused with Kanchanaburi in the western part of Thailand.
Tuek Daeng (The Red House), a small fort built by the French during the conflict 1903-1905. Today this old building in Chanthaburi province is a public museum.
On this map of Thailand, the province of Chantaburi is marked by red colour
REFERENCES
# 1. Links to Wikipedia
Chanthaburi province - Wikipedia
# 2. A book
The French Wolf and the Siamese Lamb: The French Threat to Siamese Independence, 1858-1907
By Patrick Tuck
(1995)
No comments:
Post a Comment