The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

AMEI\JCAN Dll'LOi\IATS lN SOUTHEAST ASJA ?5
favored me with much valuable information concerning Siam."l4t
Halderman served in Siam untill885 and was decorated by the governments
of Siam and French Indo-China. He died in Atlantic City in
1908.
Halderman had abysmal handwriting and an exaggerated style. At
his first audience with King Cbulalongkorn he referred to the United
States as a "pillar of cloud by day and a fire by night." On the lack of
consular furniture he wrote, "Standing, even for one's country becomes
monotonous after being pursued regularly for a few months. It is true,
I have the floor to fall back on ... " He reported the strained relations
between Chulalongkorn and the ex-regent, whose palace was across the
river from Bangkok: "a sultriness prevails on the west side of the river,
which may at any moment give place to a storm of wrath." And Siam,
he found, like bell was both bot and "paved with good intentions."142
In what was becoming a pattern for the Bangkok Consulate,
Halderman began his term to general acclaim and departed in a storm
of recriminations. Near the end of his time in Bangkok, Halderman
noted that at the time of his appointment "the then. Secretary of State
[Evarts] was pleased to remark that, the Bangkok Consulate bad been a·
thorn in the side of the Government; that I was expected to rehabilitate
it; to lift it into public respect."143 Halderman established good relations
with the two kings and the Thai Government.l 44 In 1881 the
United States raised Halderman's rank from Consul to Consul-General,
thus making him the equal of the major European representatives in
Siam. Prince Devawongse, private secretary to King Cbulalongkorn and
soon to be elevated to Foreign Minister (a post be would hold contin-
141) Bangkok Despatches, June 6, 1880. Grant, of course, had visited Siam the
previous year.
142) Bangkok De.~pati::hes; September 11, 1880; January ,4, 1881;' and March 2 7,
1881.
143) Siam Despatches, March 2, 1885.
144) The "second king," Halderman reported, "is one only in name. He has no
'voice or authority in the government." (Bangkok Despatches, September 21,
1880.) See also Siam Despatches, October 25, 1882, in which Halderman
'correctfy predicted that the incumbent "second king" would be the last.