The Eagle and the Elephant EE&Efinal.indd&Efinal.indd i 55/17/09/17/09 88:58:51:58:51 AAMM EE&Efinal.indd&Efinal.indd iiii 55/17/09/17/09 88:58:54:58:54 AAMM The Eagle and the Elephant Thai-American Relations Since 1833 5th edition EE&Efinal.indd&Efinal.indd iiiiii 55/17/09/17/09 88:58:54:58:54 AAMM © 2009 by the Royal Thai Embassy All rights reserved. Fifth edition. Editions 1-4 were produced by United States Information Service, Bangkok, Thailand. 1st printing 2,300 copies, November 1982 2nd printing 2,000 copies, July 1983 3rd printing 3,000 copies, November 1987 4th printing 3,000 copies, August 1997 Fifth Edition published by the Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C., USA. Printed in Thailand. ISBN 978-0-9764391-2-7 Editorial staff for the 5th edition From PDWorldwide: William P. Kiehl, Ed. D., Managing Editor Kris Rusch, Text and Layout Editor Barbara Tobias, Writer/Researcher From the Royal Thai Embassy: Songsak Saicheua Tanee Sangrat Prapan Disyatat Rujikorn Sangchantr Nuchjaree Klongsungsorn This edition is based on four previous editions. Editors and contributors to those editions were Vimol Bhongbhibhat, Bruce Reynolds, Sukhon Polpatpicharn, Beatrice Camp, Patricia Norland, Sindhu Tuangthong, Wipawan Limsriwong, Phairach O’siri, and Sukhon Polpatpicharn. Translations were made by Napa Bhongbhibhat, Montanee Anusas-amornkul, Nawarat Liautrakul, and Pantip Jatchavala. Distributed in Thailand by D. K. Today Co., Ltd., 90121-25 Rajaprarob Road, Makkasan., O. A. Theatre, Bangkok 10400, G.P.O. Box 2916 Thailand Tel. 245-5586, 245-5571 Fax: 247-1033 Distributed in the USA by the Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. About the Cover This sword, featuring an eagle and an elephant on a gold handle, was presented to His Majesty King Rama III by American envoy Edmund Roberts in 1833, as a gift from President Andrew Jackson. The sword was kept in the royal treasury for more than one hundred fi fty years before being photographed and has remained there since. EE&Efinal.indd&Efinal.indd iviv 55/17/09/17/09 88:58:55:58:55 AAMM Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................vii Special Acknowledgment ...............................................................................................viii Acronyms .........................................................................................................................ix Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................xi Part One: The Past, 1833–1945 ............................................................................................1 The Foundation ........................................................................................................ 3 Early American Missionaries ....................................................................................5 The First Thai–U.S. Treaty ...................................................................................... 22 A New Era in Thai-American Relations ................................................................. 26 Kings of the Chakri Dynasty ..................................................................................27 Consuls and Date Appointed ..................................................................................28 American Consuls, Ministers, and Ambassadors to Thailand ................................ 29 Americans Who Served in the Thai Government From the Reign of King Chulalongkorn to the Beginning of World War II ...............................................44 The Mahidol Family in America .............................................................................53 Relations Before World War II .............................................................................. 58 The War Years.........................................................................................................60 The Free Thai Movement ........................................................................................ 62 Part Two: Deepening Ties, 1945–1975 .............................................................................67 Peace Proclaimed ....................................................................................................69 Relations After World War II .................................................................................70 The Development of Closer Ties .............................................................................71 The Emergence of Southeast Asia Treaty Organization .........................................76 A Change of Leadership .........................................................................................77 The Laotian Crisis ...................................................................................................80 Joint Involvement in Indochina ............................................................................. 82 Education Involvement .........................................................................................84 A Growing American Community ......................................................................... 85 Royal Visits to the United States ............................................................................86 Official Visits .........................................................................................................87 Economic Expansion ..............................................................................................96 A Time of Readjustment .........................................................................................97 Part Three: Current Cooperation, 1976–2008 ................................................................99 Equal Partners ........................................................................................................ 101 Thai Domestic Politics .......................................................................................... 101 EE&Efinal.indd&Efinal.indd v 55/17/09/17/09 88:58:55:58:55 AAMM Thai External Relations in the Region ..................................................................102 Bilateral Relations ................................................................................................ 104 Military-to-Military Relations ..............................................................................105 Security Cooperation ............................................................................................108 Thai-American Economic Cooperation ................................................................109 Labor ......................................................................................................................117 Displaced Persons ...................................................................................................118 Environmental Cooperation .................................................................................120 Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences .......................................... 123 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ........................................................124 Thai-American Cooperation on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement .......... 125 Democracy and Good Governance .......................................................................129 Thai–U.S. Cooperation in Culture and Education ................................................130 Thai–U.S. Private-Sector and Foundation Cooperation ........................................148 The Thai Community in the United States ............................................................165 High-Level Official Government Relations ..........................................................167 Appendices Appendix 1. Commercial Treaty of 1833 .............................................................171 Appendix 2. Harris Treaty, May 29, 1856 ............................................................174 Appendix 3. King Mongkut’s Letter to U.S. President James Buchanan, February 14, 1861 ............................................................................179 Appendix 4. President Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to King Mongkut ..................182 Appendix 5. Credentials of Prince Krom Mun Nares......................................... 183 Appendix 6. His Majesty’s Address Before the U.S. Congress ............................184 Appendix 7. Rusk-Thanat Joint Statement ........................................................187 Appendix 8. Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations (excerpt) .....................189 Appendix 9. Exchange of Toasts Between King Bhumipol and President Clinton ........................................................................... 192 Appendix 10. Remarks by President Clinton to the Community of Chulalongkorn University .............................................................194 Appendix 11. U.S. Presidents ...............................................................................199 Appendix 12. Prime Ministers of Thailand .........................................................200 Appendix 13. 110th Congress Resolution Celebrating Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand .................................201 Appendix 14. Keynote Address by H.E. Mr. Noppadon Pattama ........................204 Appendix 15. Chronology of Events ....................................................................210 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................215