File No. 8291/31.
Minister King to the Secretary of State.
Bangkok, November 18, 1908.
Sir: I have the honor to report that on the occasion of the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of his reign His Majesty the King of Siam was pleased to confer upon Mr. Jens I. Westengard, an American citizen, acting general adviser to the Siamese Government, the second class of the Ratanabhorn medal.
We are informed that this order is given only in recognition of personal services to the King and held by very few foreigners indeed.
I have the honor to report also that His Majesty conferred upon the American minister at this post a gold medal commemorative of the occasion, but in no way of special significance, as I understand all of the colleagues of like rank were given similar recognition. This medal is held in safe-keeping subject to the orders of the State Department but, in accordance with my understanding, not to be worn in public.
I have, etc.,