Thailand and Britain Swap Boundary Maps

Thailand and Britain Swap Boundary Maps

Back To The Past-Today 
17 October 1894

Today, 105 years ago, Thailand, then known as Siam and Britain exchanged maps "showing the boundary lines as it appears today", according to Sao Saimong Mangrai, former Chief Education Officer, Shan State Government. 

In his superbly researched paper, "The Shan States and the British Annexation", Sao Saimong Mangrai of Kengtung reported that the British and Siam agreed in June 1889 to hold a boundary commission. 

The British commission was led by Mr. Ney Elias and J.G. Scott, both of whom, especially the latter, were known later for their writings on Burma and the Shans. But the final demarcation of the boundary between British Shan States and Siam "was done by a joint Anglo-Siamese Commission during the cold weather of 1892-93". The British party was headed by A.H. Hildebrand and the Siamese party by Luang Kamchat Phairind and Luang Sarasiddhi Yanukar. 

In accordance with to the bilateral agreement, Maehongson of Mawkmai State was then ceded to Siam. 
"Shan" is a Burmese corruption of "Siam".