Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1909

File No. 12293/2.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister King.

Department of State,
Washington, January 2, 1909.

No. 171.]

Sir: The department acknowledges the receipt of your No. 435, of November 18, 1908, reporting concerning the conferring of orders upon Jens I. Westengard, an American citizen, acting as general adviser to the Siamese Government, and the American Minister at Bangkok, on the occasion of the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the King’s reign.

The department is pleased that Americans should be so honored by the King of Siam, but regrets that without permission of Congress diplomatic officers may not accept decorations.

I am, etc.,

Robert Bacon.