When a Russian diplomat helped keep Britain and France out of Thailand

By AJAY KAMALAKARAN
Russia Beyond The Headlines
Asia News Network

 

Two huge elephants carrying seats form a triumphal arch in Bangkok, Thailand. It was built in honour of the late Chulalongkorn, king of Siam, who visited Europe in 1897 Source: Getty Images Two huge elephants carrying seats form a triumphal arch in Bangkok, Thailand. It was built in honour of the late Chulalongkorn, king of Siam, who visited Europe in 1897 Source: Getty Images

 

In 1897 seasoned diplomat Alexander Olarovsky was appointed by Tsar Nicholas II as the first Charge d'Affaires and Consul-General of Russia to Siam. He was specifically tasked with opposing British expansion in Indochina and brokering peace between Siam and France.

 

In the last years of the 19th century, Siam, as Thailand was then called, was in a precarious position. The British colonizers already occupied India and Burma, and the French made forays into the Indochina peninsula.

 

The Franco-Siamese War of 1893 led to Siam ceding Laos to the France, and literally turning into a buffer state between the British and the French.

 

It looked like only a matter of time before the country would be ruled by a colonial power, but Siam had one trump card - the personal friendship cultivated between King Chulalongkorn and Tsar Nicholas II.

 

“The welcoming attitudes of Tsar Nicholas II, to a great extent, influenced the Siamese diplomatic strategy in dealing with European expansion,” Natanaree Posrithong wrote in an academic publication titled ‘The Russo-Siamese Relations: The Reign of King Chulalongkorn.’

 

Full story: http://ecard.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30307213

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-25

" Siam had one trump card - the personal friendship cultivated between King Chulalongkorn and Tsar Nicholas II. "

 

Just as well because the book(s) and the movie(s) which we are not allowed to read or watch tell a different story about the diplomatic skills of King Rama IV and his great influence on history before this period.

Not to mention how the British sold the Siamese a dummy and got rid of the troublesome  areas in the South, still troublesome today. Was not due to anything the Russians did, rather caving in to the best bargain they could get at the time to avoid colonisation.  Similar to 1941 when the Japanese came to town. All worked out  for the best really didn't it ?

Edited February 25, 20179 yr by whatawonderfulday

Steady folks, steady.........we don't want to wake any ghosts of computer crimes past eh!!!! 

Well the bloody Russians prevented the country from at least being civilised and having a decent education system! Thailand could have gone far economically and really be a strong Asian leader today.....instead....it became the hub of.........(hot air)

18 minutes ago, Canceraid said:

Well the bloody Russians prevented the country from at least being civilised and having a decent education system! Thailand could have gone far economically and really be a strong Asian leader today.....instead....it became the hub of.........(hot air)

Yes you are right; in some cases rolling over has it's price in the development of a country. On the other hand I admire the Thai government and military for showing resilience and courage by helping Laos people defend their country (and Thailand itself) from the Vietnamese when spiked with courage they moved south after having deservedly booted the French out of Dien Bien Phu. The rest is history.