The sun., 1919-09-10
SIAM OFFERS LARGE
U. S. TRADE OPENING
Consul-General Says Country
Long Has Been Dumping
Ground for Germany.
SOME OF ITS EXPORTS
Import Duties Are Moderate
and Transportation to
Bangkok Is Simple.
by r. WARREN SUMNER.
Consul GencrdI OF Siam,

ConsM-qenerdl Of Siam.
Slam is little known to the average
American. AS a rule It Is associated
with white elephants and considered in
significant and merely one Of the mys,
FERROUS countries of the Far East.
might mention an incident which oc-
Cured short time ago when had a
package to send to Bangkok I took 1t
to the general offlce OF one OF the largest
express companies and asked for the rate
for forwarding It. The clerk. n man Of
middle age. 1 discovered after waiting
some time, was looking among the tariffs
for Central or South American countries.
Siam occupies an important position
In Asia. situated as It is between Burmah
on the west, French Indo-China on the
east. the Federated Malay States on the
south and China on the north, and fur
Their. II Is not nearly so small a country
as\most people imagine. In fact Siam is
larger than Belgium. Greece, Hayu,
Cuba, Montenegro, Portugal and Pana-
ma combined. and only a trihe smaller
than Germany, although the population
Is but slightly over 100000.
The Siamese people are essentially q
peace loving and thrifty race and the in
vellous development in the last few years,
largely owing to the influence of the
present King. The progress Of the coun-
try Is to no small extent Influenced by
his European education and his foresight
In obtaining the services OF men from
this and other countries fully qualified
to educate his people and introduce mod
ern methods and ideas throughout Siam.
HeIueA AHA. In yVar
Another thing which will prove a
great factor in the development OF the
country is the large number Of Govern
ment students which have been sent to
practically all the principal colleges OF
the world, many of whom are showing
exceptional ability. Upon their return
to their native land they will be qualified
to irnpart much valuable knowledge to
the people. The government Is an abso-
lutte monarchy, although the present King
Rama ~. has been on the throne only
since October 90, 1910.
Other nations of the world have cause
to admire the just and democratic way
In which the affairs OF the country are
being conducted, and when President
Wilson appealed to the neutral nations OF
the world to join the Allies in making the
| world free and safe Siam, about 5000
miles from the seat OF the war, Joined
the Allies. and although unable to send
any large force of men to the front Il
| did much In furnishing supplies, and the
| moral effect II had upon some of the
countries Of the Far East helped greatly
| The principal article exported is rice
the average value of which for the past
| five years Is about 100000 ticals
lockwood comes next. and during 1917.
Is the value of this wood exported from
Siam was 5.14s,966 ticals. Other ex.
ports are ivory. coffee. tobacco, pepper
nutmegs and other spices. kapok. cottor
and vegetable fibres, rubber, resin
damar and tin and zinc ores
The amount OF teakwood available fol-
shipment undoubtedly will increas,
greatly with the introduction of tractor
to haul the logs from the forests TO tn,
rivers, where It is floated to the various
points of shipment, much in the sam,
manner as in the northwestern part o
the country. At present this valuabl,
wood Is carried from the forest to tn,
streams by elephants especially trained
for this work. and 1t is frequently tw,
| or three years after the tree is felled be
for the log is available for export
Rubber Industry Growing.
Rubber Is another product of Sian
| which will Increase greatly within tn,
next few years as large quantities o
the trees have been planted. but II take
a number of years before the rubbe
tree is old enough to be productive
and as the gum from those grown II
Siam has been found to be of an ex
ceptionally fine quality this industr
is expected to be a large factor In tn
agricultural wealth Of the land.