Transcript of the above video:

I am making this video in the immediate aftermath of the recent visit by the Secretary of State of the United States to the Kingdom of Thailand and I wanted to go ahead and quote directly from the United States - Thailand Communiqué on strategic alliance and partnership that was promulgated pretty much immediately or right after this recent visit. Quoting directly from that particular Communiqué: "As the United States and Thailand celebrate our 190^th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023, we recognize two centuries of special trust and collaboration built through the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce, our Treaty Alliance established through the 1954 Manila Pact, the 1962 Thanat-Rusk Communiqué and the 1966 Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations. Forged by shared history and common values, and anchored by our collective commitment to build resilient, inclusive democracies and advance human rights, our two countries reaffirm our commitment to our strategic alliance as sovereign equals, with steadfast commitment to the principles of mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual interest." I really enjoyed reading that when I read that the first time because I can't tell you enough how much I love Thailand and the United States if it is not immediately apparent.

The reason for this video, on top of that, I thought it was worthwhile to note somebody. I had read about this person some years ago, it was actually pre-Covid I read that book, it is actually a book called Chaiyo King Vajiravudh and the Development of Thai Nationalism, that's King Rama VI; the book is called Chaiyo King Vajiravudh and the Development of Thai of Nationalism. I believe I actually checked that out from Nielsen Hays Library in downtown Bangkok. Quite an interesting insightful book but something I've been reading about more recently in some other recent books was the History of the Unequal Treaties in the Region down here in Southeast Asia as well as up in parts of China etc., and sort of the history of colonialism which for Thailand was a very trying time but Thailand in my opinion got through it with as much grace as any country could have because Thailand managed to avoid being formally colonized. They avoided being colonized although there was a lot of interaction between various colonial powers and Thailand, sometimes not the most pleasant interaction depending on the year and the circumstances and things but Thailand held herself together and got through it and it was a trying time. Few people I think really go back and look at the rather deep connections between Americans out this way and the history of Thailand and sort of how the relationship evolved. (Excuse me, I'm a little hoarse so I am drinking a little bit of hot water there). But the way the relationship evolved over time just the general, really the relationship itself. The American-Thai relationship has just been - Amity is the best way to describe it. It has just been a very amicable relationship all the way down the line. But I wanted to read a quick excerpt from again this book, Chaiyo King Vajiravudh and the Development of Thai Nationalism. I'll go ahead and put a link in the description below to this, hawaiiopen.org which actually has the book there where folks can actually read this excerpt. Quoting directly: "Despite the blandishments of the Siamese, little progress was made in Treaty negotiations for some time." And just as a set aside here, yeah going back the unequal Treaties especially what was called the Bowring Treaty which the British imposed on what was then called the Kingdom of Siam, now called Thailand, it was pretty unequal. Now again Thailand never surrendered sovereignty but a lot of concessions were granted in Thailand for in this case British Nationals and then later there were similar agreements made between French Nationals, I think Germany had a Treaty here; other colonial nations, nations in Europe that had colonial aspirations were out in this part of the world and they made a number of Treaties with Thailand that to one degree or another were pretty darn unequal. America, the United States was not quite operating in that vein, well at least by degree not nearly to the extent of some other powers out here, but long story short, Thailand at the time there were special advisors from foreign countries that were oftentimes brought in by the Government here in Thailand to bring in foreign expertise and things and to advise on the situation on how best to bring in certain industries, certain technologies. A very interesting time for Thailand but at the same time it was a very precarious time for Thailand. I just want to read this, so quoting again: "Despite the blandishments of the Siamese, little progress was made in Treaty negotiations for some time. Only two powers, Japan and France, seemed willing to follow the American lead." the American lead being the non-usage of these unequal treaties, that's what they are talking about here. Quoting further: "By 1923 a new Treaty on the American model had been negotiated with Japan and discussions with France along the same lines were well advanced. No progress at all however had been made with the British. The log jam was finally broken in 1924 with the appointment of Francis Bowes Sayre of the Harvard Law School as advisor in foreign affairs. Sayre took the Siamese case directly to the centres of power and decisions in Europe and in a period of 9 months succeeded in persuading the 10 European states with special rights in Siam to assent to new Treaties. By August of 1925, he was able to cable King Vajiravudh that: "Siam's complete autonomy is now regained."

When I read that passage, just as an American and a Thai, I really just, I just enjoyed reading it. It really kind of filled me with the level of pride frankly that back then America kind of helped Thailand at a time when frankly I don't think, the Thai side of me doesn’t really like looking back on that era with a great deal of fondness but this was kind of a moment of sort of "friends helping each other out" an era of amity and I don't think that Mr. Sayre is oftentimes noted for his contributions. If you look him up, there is a lot of information about him in the context of his accomplishments as an American diplomat but he also did a great deal of service to Thailand, then Siam, in providing guidance and insight and assistance and I think it has been good not only for Thailand just in a general sense, but for the Thai-American relationship to date.