Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
CROWN PRINCE OF SIAM
FRIENDLY TO AMERICANS

| Special Dispatch TO The STIR.
| NEW YORK, April T. The Crown
| Prince of Siam. who visited the United
| States few years ago, has not forgotten
! the pleasant reception accorded him here
| This was made evident few weeks ago
when he laid the cornerstone OF the new
Mission Boys School at Chiensmai, In the
Laos country. Reports of the princes visit
to Chiengmai have Just been received here
at the office of the Presby terian board of
foreign missions.
Chiengma is COO miles north of Bangkok,
the Siamese capital, and as travel IN that
country is slow and difficult, it was quite
an event when the crown prince made the
! trip to the north. His coming was known
several months In advance, and the govern
ment officials made great preparations for
it. Hundreds of miles OF road were built
or repaired costly pavilions were erected
along the entire route of travel, thousands
of workmen being employed. In Chengmai
barrels Of money were spent in decorations.
pavilons, palace furnishings and general
improvements.
At the Presbyterian mission station 1t was
not thought that the visit of the prince
would have much significance for the mis-
sionaries, although preparations were made
to decorate the station in his honor. But
before his arrival 1t was intimated by
Siamese officials that the prince would visit
the station If he We're invited to do So and
of course, the invitation was gladly ex-
tended. day was appointed and the
prince came and visited the mission hos
pital, the girls school and the church. aft
erward giving the missionaries a special
audience, during which he spoke cordially
of his visit to the states.
1t was few days later. however, on the
occasion of his laying the cornerstone of
William Allen Butler Hall, the recitation
building of the boys school of the mission.
that the crown prince strongly expressed
himself regarding the friendship existing
between the kingdom of Siam and the
United States and the interest taken by the
Siamese royal family in the American mis-
slons. After address of welcome had
been made by one of the Americans the
prince replied as follows:
II have listened with great pleasure to
the complimentary remarks which have
just been made. regard them as clear
and indisputabe evidence of your friend
ship fer the whole kingdom of Siam.
During my visit to the United States the
American people were pleased to give me
a most enthusiastic welcome. i may men
ton particularly the sumptuous banquet
with which your Presbyterian board of
foreign missions honored me. l then
clearly perceived that the American people
received me whoie-heartedly and not per-
functoriiy. This also made It evident to
me that the American people have sincere
friendship for the kingdom of Siam. OF
this fact I was profoundly convinced. and
] Certainly shall not soon forget my visit
to the United States.
This being SO. feel impelled to recip-
my ability. As my royal grandfather and
my royal father have befriended the Chris
tian missionaries, 20 trust that /. too.
shall have opportunity on proper occasions
to assist them TO the limit OF my power.
Four Invitation to me- to lay the corner