No. 321.
Mr. Davis
to Mr. Halderman.
Washington, April 29, 1884.
Sir: Adverting to the Department’s No. 28, of October 9 last, to you, I have now to state that the Siamese consul at New York recently announced to the Department the departure from Liverpool, the 26th instant, of the special embassy from Siam for the United States, whither it was expected to arrive about the 2d or 3d proximo.
[Page 455]These facts were duly communicated to the President, who properly presented them to Congress. * * * The Secretary of the Treasury has directed the customs authorities to extend to the embassy, upon its arrival at New York, every facility and courtesy for the passage of the personal baggage of His Majesty’s special mission, and has placed at its disposal a revenue-cutter to convey the embassy to that city upon the arrival of the ship at quarantine.
The Secretaries of War and of the Navy have also been requested to lend the co-operation of their respective Departments, to the extent at least of firing a salute upon the arrival of the ship off New York, and to otherwise testify their lively interest in the approaching embassy. Rear-Admiral Rodgers, U. S. N., who will be accompanied by Mr. Sevellon A. Brown, chief clerk of this Department, has been designated to proceed to New York, and on the arrival of the embassy to extend to it, in the name of the President of the United States, a cordial and sincere welcome. From the foregoing, it will be perceived that every precaution has been taken to demonstrate to the embassy the pleasure which this Government feels at receiving it, and I may also observe that the desire of the President is that no opportunity shall be omitted whereby be may further testify his high appreciation of the presence of this representative body from that distant friendly country, Siam.
I am, &c.,
Acting Secretary.