Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-07-27
WAR DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES ARE SENT TO
CONGRESS TODAY FOR OVER FIVE BILLION
WILSON'S LETTER
Cause of Siam Giving
Up Neutrality
Question Of Extent of Slams Partiei-
patton in War Is Still Open-Prob-
ably Send No Forces to European
Field

Gloucester. Mass, July 2e.-Siam
proud Of her neutrality in the world
war abandoned it to oppose the leu
tonic invasion of the rights of small
peoples and free peoples largely be-
cause of President Wilson's state let
ters on the German crisis, Wolcott H
Pltkln. advisor in foreign affairs to
His Siamese Majesty's government
said today. Mr.. Pitkin had lust finish
ed a long conference with the Siamese
minister Phya Prabha Karavongse.
at the summer legation here, to which
had been forwarded official advices of
Slams declaration of war on Ger
many and Austria Hungary.
May Release Troops
These advices, he said, left still open
the question of the extent Of Slams
participation in the war but this in
the opinion of Mr.. Pitkin will not be
great. 1T may be that 1t will lead di-
rectly to releasing the troops which
Great Britain has in Burma. and the
forces which France has retained in
the French states, which adjoin Siam
on the northwest and or the east. re-
spectively, but there is little likelihood
that Siam will send any forces into the
European field" he said.
Although in territory only as large
-
that Siam has considerable standing
army, highly trained in modern meth
DDS. the exact number of which has
always been closely guarded.
Nine Interned Steamers
The nine German steamers interned
in Siamese ports which have reported
seized by the Siamese government will
add some $4,000 tons to the allied ship
ping resources. according to Mr. Pit
kin, and any damages to the vessels
by their crews prior to seizure can be
repaired at Bangkok where there are
both private and naval drydocks The
Siamese fleet in his opinion. will be
only a negative factor in the situation,
as it consists only Of gunboats.
Mr.. Pitkin. who is an American said
he had found very interesting his op-
portunlty as an observer of the coun-
try.
Siamese Most Contented
"The eight million people of Siam
living under an absolute monarchy
are most contented. The germ Of de-
sire for self-government has not yet
appeared there. They call themselves
not the Samese, but 'Tahai' or The
free" he said, adding that this con-
dition might explain the apparent in
consistency Of monarchy so absolute
as Siam declaring for war on the side
Of democracy.
Declaration Act Of King
THE declaration of war" he contin-
ued, was the act Of the King alone
his ministers being solely advisers and
the country being without any form OF
legislative body, but it found hearty
concurrence among the people. They
had felt keenly for invaded Belgium
and the thinking men Of Siam applied
the fate Of Belgium to the question
Of the rights Of small peoples. But the
Kingdom maintained a strict neutral
ity of which it was very proud, al
though holding in high regard both
Great Britain and France.
In thus viewing the war from afar
Siam kept in touch with the attitude
Of other neutrals, followed closely the
letters Of President Wilson and the
ong-suffering Of the United States and
the declaration of Siam, to my mind
came as a direct consequence Of Presi-
dent Wilson's message TO Congress and
Americas entry into the war"
People Are Agricultural
Referring to the resources Of Siam
Mr.. Pitkin said that the people were
in the main agricultural, with rice as
the principal diet. Labor is scarce. a
fact which he thought answered the
question whether Siam was likely to be
able to respond to a call for man.
power to be used in experimenting the
fighting forces IN the manner that
Chinese collie labor has been engaged
in France.
Besides the rice growing. there are
large lumber operations in the forests
Of the south, much Of which is con-
Quoted by British commercial interests
Great Britain more than any other
country has tapped the Siamese trade
field. which generally has been ne