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

Benjamin A. Batson
the twin perils of elephant rustlers and Thai officials. It was months
before the communications sent by sea between Barrett and Washington
arrived and enlightened both sides as to the true situation; in any case
it is doubtful whether the American Government would have ordered a
gunboat to Siam to protect 100 elephants. 2 03
Barrett's next plunge into gunboat diplomacy came early in 1897,
following the attack on Kellett in Chiengmai. Barrett again r.equested
that an American warship be sent to Bangkok for "moral effect,'' and
~this time Washington complied. But once again telegram communications
were Barrett's undoing. He misinterpreted a communication from
Washington as applying to the Kellett case, and thinking he was
following instructions be solicited the aid of the British and French
representatives in Bangkok in getting London and Paris to put pressure
. on Siam. The Department of State sharply informed Barrett that its
earlier message had nothing to do with the Kellett case, and the
humiliated minister was forced to recall the letters that he had sent to
the British and French diplomats and explain that be had misunderstood
his instructions.204 Barrett disagreed strongly with Washington's
position that Siam alone should investigate the Kellett affair, but he
qenied that his reactions bad been alarmist or his communications had
used "terms not befitting diplomatic archives." This caution was shortlived,
for two days later Barrett sent an ill-considered telegram to
Secretary of State Richard Olney in which he again objected to a Thai
inves.tigation, and denounced his instructions as "so disastrous [to]
American interests." The Department of State cabled a reply censuring
Barrett for "undue excitemennrnd temper," and the chastised minister
how promised to show more restraint and .faithfully follow instructions.
I[! reply to Olney, Barrett sent .an apologia more notable for its humor
than its logic :2os.
'203-) Siam Despatches, February 21, 1895; February 25, 1895 (two despatches);
Februa·ry27,1895;andJune 19,1895.
204) Siam Despatches, January 13, 1897; January 22, 1897; January 2·5, 1897;
· ·February 2, 1897; February 3, 1897.; and February 6, 1897. ·
· 205) Siam Despat"ches, February 6, 1897; February 8, 1897; and February 10, 1897.
The Department of Sta·te, .after further explanations had been £C:ceived,
withdrew .the cba~ge o("undue e~oiJement.and temper."