The Acting Secretary of State to Minister King.
Washington, May 20, 1905.
Sir: The Department has received and read with much interest your dispatch No. 227, of March 31 last, with inclosure, relating to the royal decree for the abolition of gambling in Siam.
It appears from your dispatch and the accompanying decree that it is intended to abolish gambling throughout Siam, excepting only in Bangkok, on April 1, 1906, and in that city on April 1, 1907, that the deficiency in revenue caused by the application of this measure to the interior of the country is to be met by an increase of the land tax, while the Siamese Government will have to depend upon the cooperation of the Christian nations for indemnification for the loss of revenue entailed by the suppression of the gambling houses operating in the capital city, and that the good offices of this government are desired in support of this endeavor.
You may inform the Siamese Government that the Department is disposed to give all proper aid to His Majesty’s Government in effectuating the contemplated reform, and is much gratified to learn of the recognition extended in Siam to the resident American missionaries who have been, it appears, a very potent factor in bringing about the decree abolishing gambling, as also in the advancement in general of endeavors for the progress of that country.
As regards giving effect to the desire of the Siamese Government for an increase in a moderate degree of the import-duty rate of 3 per cent, fixed by a provision contained in Article VII of the existing treaty of amity and commerce, concluded between the United States and Siam May 29, 1856, it would seem necessary to the accomplishment of that end that assent to the proposed change be obtained from all the Christian nations which are parties to conventions establishing the present rate of duty, as the right of this country to most-favored-nation treatment must in any event be maintained.
I am, etc.,