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

104 Benjamin A. Batson
I must confess that I have doubts as to the propriety of
writing much except on strictly commercial affairs.
A large part of the flow of information from Bangkok to Washington
concerned commercial affairs,240 as did most of the information the
American Government published on Siam.24t Sickels, "Deeming it to
be my duty to use my official influence to extend American commerce,"
was particularly industrious in promoting American trade. 242 As was
seen above, he thought his efforts had "not been appreciated by the
Department of State."243 Halderman, while deploring too "rosy" a view
of American commercial prospects in Siam, advocated measures to improve
America's competitive position, including a government-sponsored
merchant marine. 244 Sempronius Boyd was almost lyrical about the
great Siam market and the economic potential of this "Sleeping
Giant." 245 Barrett, reporting to the Department of State on the development
of American trade, noted that "In every way consistent with his
position your representative bas facilitated this progress," and recommended
that American capitalists "try for a share of the spoils." His
letter writing campaigns to promote these goals, and the proposals for
tbe construction of a Nicaraguan canal, the annexation of Hawaii, and
the expansion of the American merchant marine have been discussed
above.246
A second point upon which American diplomats in Siam in the
nineteenth century were practically unanimously agreed was their low
240) A larger part than may appear from this paper, perhaps, for strictly commer­
Cii!! reports were usually in the series of Bangkol~ Despatches, which has been
used only occasionally after the commencement of the Siam Despatches series
inl882. ·
241) See note 216.
242) Bangkok Despatches, March 12, 18 77.
243) Bangkok Despatches, September 7, 1880. See also his despatches of April 15,
1878; June 12, 1878; August 25, 1878; June 21, 1880; and September 29,
1880.
244) BangkokDcspatches, February 7, 1881.
245) SiamDespatches, February 7, 1891, and March 13, 1891. But see also his
less sanguine view of current realities in his despatch of February 28, 1891.
246) SiamDespatches, March 20, 1895; December 3, 1895; September 30, 1896;
and January 26, 1898.