Evening star., 1901-12-19

pointed from that kingdom to hold the dip
lomatic missions simultaneously at both
Washington and London. 1t has always
followed that this capital has seen very
little Of the minister. After appointment
the rule has been for him to come to Wash
ington present his credentials, and after a
short stay here to return to the London
legation and remain there during the rest
Of his term in office.
To Establish a Legation.
The coming of the new minister. Phya
Akharaj, will mark a change in this re-
spect. He has come to establish a Siamese
legation here, and will take up his resi-
dence during the incumbency of his office.
Quite little has been said in the press
to the effect that the establishment of the
Siamese legation in Washington at this
time has been due to the United States
occupancy Of the Philippines, but that is
not an altogether correct statement Of the
case. The Philippines are as far from
Siam as San Francisco is from Washing
ton, and the course that the United States
purSues there can only affect that country
in very indirect manner. But the king
dom OF Slam has been making very mate
rial progress commercially and otherwise
for number of years, and the general ac-
tivity in the markets Of the far east led
her to realize that it was only a matter of
time until the American market would be
quite as important to her as the English,
and it is this which Influenced her to estab-
lish legation at the United States capital
at this time
The new plenipotentiary. Phya Akharaj,
is native of the district of Bangkok He
is highly connected. His father was a MEM
Der of the Siamese nobility. and was a man
OF great wealth and position. He gave his
son every advantage of the native schools,
and then sent him to Oxford, where he
took postgraduate course. When he re-
turned to Assam from the English univer-
SltY he entered the
with which he has been associated ever
since, and in which he was signally hon
ored At the time of his appointment to
the Washington post he was assistant Sec
retary Of the department Of state This is
his first diplomatic appointment.
The Secretary of Legation.
Minister Akharaj is accompanied by the
secretary Of legation, Mr.. Edward A.
LOTUS, and one or two attaches For the
present the legation is established at the
Arlington. Mr.. Lotus has been secretary
Of the Siamese legation in London for a
number Of years. He is the son of English
parents but was born in Siam, where his
father had business interests and where he
has spent the greater part Of his life.
There is a good deal of misapprehension
about The Kingdom of the Free as Siam
Is POLITICALLY called" said Mr.. LOTUS in
speaking of it to a Star representative. "In
America 1t seems to be regarded as a bit Of
country tucked in at one side of the British
eastern possessions and lying in oriental
desuetude, with hardly enough of 1t to COM
mand much consideration, but this is a
mistake. 1t covers an area Of 100000
square miles. and Bangkok, Its capital, has
population of 100000 Inhabitants 1t is
quite as progressive as It's neighbors, and Is
constantly becoming more SO. railway
runs from Bangkok to Korat, and branch
lines are under construction. Telegraph,
telephone and postal systems connect the
cities Of the kingdom and electric tramways
have been introduced. Our exports and i'm
ports have been largely increasing for a
number Of years and our shipping is grow
ing in Importance
When Minister Akharaj was presented to
President Roosevelt yesterday both he and
Secretary LOTUS were attired in handsome
court dress. The minister's coat was a
blaze Of gold lace and he wore a magnifi-
cent decoration of the Commandery of As
sam, which was presented to him by the
king. Phya Akharaj is married and has
several children of school age but it is not
probable that his family will join him this
winter. Mr.. Lotus is accompanied by his
wife.