The King of Siam had granted permission to the French to open a trading station; the French merchants were held in high estimation and were more favoured than those of other nations. Two cities had been ceded without reservation to Louis XIV. in return for the military help sent for the defence of the kingdom. The revolution that occurred during Faulcon's tenure of office obliged the French to leave a country to which they had been summoned as its defenders, and from that time onwards, but few French vessels entered the ports of Siam.
Formerly the Council of Pondicherry had sent several ships to Siam in the course of each year and one vessel had always been bound for the port of Mergui alone. They were exempt from ordinary taxation and the French missionaries, who were respected for their rectitude, were the only foreign judges who were able to give a decision in cases between Europeans and Siamese.
The English had been for more than a century in Siam without any trading station or representative. Some of them carried on certain profitable amount of trade.
The Dutch had gained the commercial supremacy. Their factory was the finest and most beautiful building in the kingdom and they enjoyed many privileges of great value.
The King of Siam, by a policy detrimental to his interests, but as a boon to his subjects, reserves the monopoly of foreign trade. Thus trade is not in a flourishing condition as the interested despot fixes the price of merchandise at his own sweet will.
Since the last revolution the system of government has been entirely changed, and today it would be an easy matter for the French to regain their commercial supremacy by the establishment of a trading station at Mergui as in former times, or at some spot near the capital. The station could be protected by a fortress as was formerly the case at Bangkok the foundations and ruins of which remain to this day.
A wide and deep river forms a defence to the approaches and it would only be a matter of 12 leagues from the sea. The French could rebuild this fortress for the following reasons, (1) Compensation is due for the losses suffered in 1680. (2) The site had been granted to them without reservation. (3) The Siamese Government is still in debt to the India Company, and lastly owing to the fact that a weak minded nation, who tremble at the sight of an armed Frenchman, could easily be imposed upon.
Since the retreat of the Burmese, the kingdom of Siam has been governed by several petty chieftains who are at perpetual strife with each other. Bangkok and Mergui have their rulers. The French minister might make arrangements with one of these usurpers, who might feel flattered to be under French protection, and, in return might well grant a piece of land on which to build a fortress for the protection of commerce.
Such a fortified trading station would be handy as a port of call for
Pondicherry in connection with commerce with China.
The country produces all sorts of building materials, brick-clay, cement, and shell-lime.