New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-18
SIAM AND HER HUMANE RULER

FOR TIE UNITED sTATES-AMERIcANs IN BANG
KOK-wOEs OF The BRITISH CONSULATE.
lFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUEEl
| BANGKOK, Siam, Feb. 20.-Unless something hap
pens to make a change of programme You will have
| a visit from royalty within the next few MONTHS
The King is going to England to invest Queen Vic
toria with the Order of the White Elephant and it
is his intention to prOODg his journey to the United
States, and return to Siam by way Of China and
Japan ChunlOnkom is anxious to DO the first
Eastern potentate tOmake the tour Of the world he
is an enlightened and progressive monarch, and de-
sires to learn all he that will enable him to rule
bis people inteligenty and to develop the resources
| of Siam. He has profound admiration for the
United States, and thinks a journey through that
country will be of great practical advantage to him
in carrying out bis wishes for the Land of the White
| Elephant.
His plan is to leave Bangkok on the 23d Of April
for Singapore where he will take passage one OF
the Messageres Maritmes steamers for Marseilles.
He will be due in London about the 9TH of June,
and is to remain in England nearly month; his
departure from Liverpool for New-YOrk is fixed for
the Sd of July, and consequently he should arrive
on American soil on the 18th or 18th of that
month. do not know the programme for his
movements in America and dOubt if it has been ar
ranged but understand he will saffron San Fran
cisco on the steamer of the list Of September spend
month i'm Japan and another in China, and reach
Bangkok on his return some time in December
The King will be accompanied by His Excellency
the Foreign Minister and by his three younger
brothers as aides-de-camp. He will also have q
suite of about thirty noblemen and dignitaries Of
the realm, and the whole party will be in charge of
Captain Bush who is the highest foreigner in the
Siamese service, has lived moro than thirty years at
Bangkok was n trusted friend and adviser OF the
old dtad in 1870 ord is In tha eou-
fdence of the young King to-day. It is to be hoped
that the journey Will result In an increase Of the
commercial relations between Siam and the United
States, which is q great desire of the King. From
his early youth he has had o warm place in his
heart for the citizens OF the great Republic and has
given much attention to the study Of the peculari-
ties of our laws and institutions. Since he became
King he has manifested his friendness in various
ways. and when any American Of prominence has
visited Siam the young ruler has shown him the
inequalities of the country In a most liberal way.
Three years ago. when tho feet under Admiral
Reynolds visited Bangkok, the Admiral and Mrs.
Reynolds were entertained at the Royal Palace at
banquet specially arranged IN their honor When
the party went to the dining-roOm tho King gave
his arm to Mrs Reynolds and escorted her to the
table. exactly as a gentleman Of Murray Hill in
New-YOrc might escort lady guest This may
seem a small matter to those who do not know the
customs Of tho East, but when it il remembered
that the position of woman all through the Orient
Is far below that Of man. and that other Eastern
monarch ever gave his arm to escort woman to q
table before 1t was done by the King of Siam, the
Importance Of his Difference to Western customs
will be appreciated. When General Grant was here
like courtesy was shown to Mrs. Grant, but this
was less significant than the attention TO the wife
of the Admiral for whom the ice was broken.
Recently the American Consul, Colonel Sckels,
has been Joined by his wife, who LETT last
Autumn Tor Bangkok by way Of San Francisco.
Since her arrival the King has shown her dIstln-
gished honors ana so has the Foreign Minister. The
lattGr gave dinner and an entertolnment IN her
honor that surpassed anything Of tile kind ever
given in Siam to Indy Of any nationality. Colonel
Sickols IS highly popular with tho King and the Of
hcials of the Government generally aud Is FREE
quently consulted by them relative TO Samese at
fairs. He is regarded as an Intelligent and most
friendly adviser both personally and by his nation
aiy, and good deal OF the kindly feeling recently
displayed toward Americans IL to be attributed TO |
him. rumor has reached here that he ~ TO be re
moved and thar General Grant has advised that |
some other man should DO appointed to the Con- |
sulate. The American residents OF Bangkok slIs |
cerey trust that tho report Is untrue, as lt woud
be far easier 10 get n worse incumbent than one |
equally good for American interests When our |
cx-pres,ient visited Siam he was detained for some
hours NJ the mouth Of the Menam waiting for the |
arrival Of the officials to accompany hum to Bang |
BOk and il was whispered here that he was impa' |
tienl at the delay aud blamed Colonel Sckcls for |
not hayup the affair properly arranged when the |
whole matter was in the hands Of tho Siamese. The |
American Consul hHu Deem COnAulteU ABOUT Tnc ar |
engagements OF the distinguished party during their
stay and the General Is indebted 10 his cnuntry's
representative for many OF the interesting features
of his visit to Siam.
The great sensation of tho last few months has
been the series of events connected directly and in
directly with the British Consulate. | wrote you |
last Summer Of the elopement OF Miss Fanny, the |
daughter of the Hon. Thomas G. Knox. Her Britain
mic Majesty's Consult General, with Samese noble
man. Pbra Prcecha, tho arrest OF the hnsDanu l0r |
HIGH crimes and mIsdemcanOr5, the summOning OF q |
gunboat by Mr.. Knox, and threats to lombard the
royal palace II the unfortunate no6eman was not
released. He was ultimately bchoaded ana ms tam-
iV imprisoned according 10 Samese law and custom,
w.,h tho exception of his Ango-Siamese WIFE, who
was allowed to leave the country she TOOK Win
her the property of her lte husband 10 the value OF
$4,000, and ls now IN England with her father,
who was recalled by his Government for lis threat
OF violence toward the ruler Of Siam. A new Con-
u-Gcncral, Mr.. Palgraye, has arrived and has es-
tablished pleasant relations with the GoYernment;
the hope is entertained that affairs will now run
smoothly, which is more than they have done Tor
several years. The Siamese are not amlably dis
posed toward England, and France, for tho
Of both those COuntriesj France has
protectorate over CambOdia on ono SIDE OF siam,
and England has strong footing in Burmah,
which forms tho western boundary Of this country.
Naturally, Siam is fearful of the extension of
French or English power over It's territory, and as
several intrignes have been made to that end, the
King and his Ministers look with suspicion on every
move of the representatives OF the lion ana the
sessions and have been suspected OF desire to
obtain any there is not tho slightest occasion for
the Samese TO be otherwise than on the best OF
terms with us and our Consul,
Negotiations are in progress for placing Siam in
the Postal Union, which will be great blessing to
the foreigners residing here. At present oil mails
are sent through the British Consulate, which for
wards letters to Singapore, the nearest post office or
by private bag to Hong Kong. There is no attempt
to connect W tn the regular mails from Singapore,
end it often happens that letters for Europe aud |
America arc detained there four or five days before
proceeding on their Journey
recent dispatch King OF Siam has
abandoned proposed trip Europe and America In
duenCe illness OF the Regent who would hold the rens
OF government In his absence.
LONG BRANCH OUT OF SEASON.