Lincoln to Thai king: Thanks but no thanks for the elephants

The elephant is Thailand's national animal, so it's only natural that King Mongkut in 1861 offered to send a pair to the United States as a gift of the friendship between the two countries.

President Abraham Lincoln, likely bemused and relieved at the distraction from America's then-raging Civil War, politely declined, saying his country uses the steam engine and would have no use for the working animals.

In this March 22, 2018, photo, a letter written by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 replying to Thailand's King Mongkut is on display at the exhibition "Great and Good Friends," inside Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this March 22, 2018, photo, a visitor tours the exhibition titles "Great and Good Friends," inside the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

As part of the 200th anniversary celebrating the long-lasting relationship, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok is showcasing historic gifts the two countries have exchanged on the grounds of Thailand's Grand Palace.

It includes the first-ever official letter sent in 1818 from a Thai diplomat to President James Monroe — there are documents spanning two centuries — as well as some spectacular Thai objects d'art and portraits.

Then there's the elephants story, also documented among the exhibits.

In his 1861 letters, Mongkut offered the elephants after learning they were not native to America. He also sent along three gifts: a sword and scabbard, a photograph of the king with one of his daughters, and an impressive pair of elephant tusks.

He addressed the letters to then-President James Buchanan "or whomever would become president" with elaborate paragraph-long salutations.

Lincoln was already president by the time the letters arrived a year later. He penned a reply, addressing the king simply as "Great and Good Friend."

In this March 22, 2018, photo, a letter written by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 replying to Thailand's King Mongkut is on display at the exhibition "Great and Good Friends," inside Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this March 22, 2018, photo, a letter written by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 replying to Thailand's King Mongkut is on display at the exhibition "Great and Good Friends," inside Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The offer of elephants did not neglect practical details. Mongkut stated, "On this account, we desire to procure and send elephants to be let loose to increase and multiply in the continent of America." But Thailand — then called Siam — did not have a large enough vessel to transport them, the letter said.

It continued: "In reference to this opinion of ours if the President of the United States and Congress who conjointly with him rule the country see fit to approve, let them provide a large vessel loaded with hay and other food suitable for elephants on the voyage, with tanks holding a sufficiency of fresh water, and arranged with stalls so that the elephants can both stand and lie down in the ship — and send it to receive them. We on our part will procure young male and female elephants and forward them one or two pairs at a time."

Mongkut then in his letter directs that the elephants should be kept away from the cold and under the sun, and to also "let them with all haste be turned out to run wild in some jungle suitable for them not confining them any length of time."

"If these means can be done we trust that the elephants will propagate their species hereafter in the continent of America," the letter said.

In this March 22, 2018, photo, the signature of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln at the end of his letter in reply to Thailand's King Mongkut in 1862, is on display at the exhibition title "Great and Good Friends," inside Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this March 22, 2018, photo, the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Glynn Davies talks to media in front of hand-written letters from U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Thailand king Mongkut on display at the exhibition titled "Great and Good Friends," inside Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thai monarchy expert Tongthong Chandransu said the offer of elephants reveals that Mongkut wanted to be part of building the young United States.

"You have to consider that 200 years ago, elephants were an important means of transportation and helped a lot with our work, not to mention warfare, but also the building of homes and cities," Tongthong said.

The ever-practical Lincoln rejected the offer to send wild elephants running through American forests, saying the country "does not reach a latitude so low as to favor the multiplication of the elephant." He said in his 1862 letter that "steam on land, as well as on water, has been our best and most efficient agent of transportation in internal commerce."

The exhibition runs until June 30.

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s foreign minister abruptly resigned in dissatisfaction over a Cabinet reshuffle that removed him as one of the country's deputy prime ministers.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Monday confirmed the report of the resignation of Parnpree Bahiddha-Nugara, saying that he respected the decision, and that he has already started looking for a replacement.

Srettha said it was normal that some people would be upset by the reshuffle, adding that he already sent a message to Parnpree, apologizing and thanking him for his work.

“For his work that has been in the good interest of the country, I believe that the new minister will continue these good efforts,” he said, but did not say when the next appointee would take up the post.

On Sunday, Srettha’s government, which took office less than a year ago, announced its first Cabinet shuffle. Shortly afterwards, the media circulated a document said to be a letter of resignation from Parnpree, dated Sunday, indicating his dissatisfaction that he was removed from the position of deputy prime minister and only remained foreign minister.

Ministers in Thailand are allowed to hold multiple Cabinet positions, and it is common for senior ministers to also be appointed as deputy prime ministers.

Srettha said that the intention behind Parnpree being dropped as deputy prime minister was to allow him to concentrate on his role as foreign minister.

In an interview with the public broadcaster Thai PBS on Sunday, Parnpree said the letter was authentic but denied that he was unhappy. He said the prime minister had the authority to make this decision, but said it was “a little unusual” and argued that it would become harder for him to work as foreign minister if he did not also hold the title of deputy prime minister.

Parnpree, who was first appointed in August, engaged in several diplomatic efforts, including a visit to the Middle East to negotiate the release of Thai workers in Israel held hostage by Hamas, and the first humanitarian aid initiative to Thailand's war-torn neighbor, Myanmar, where millions have been displaced by violence that followed the military coup in 2021.

As part of the Cabinet shuffle, Prime Minister Srettha, a former CEO of Thailand’s leading property developer, lost his seat as finance minister. He is replaced by Pichai Chunhavajira, who until recently was a chairman of energy conglomerate Bangchak and chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Pichai has also been appointed as a deputy prime minister.

FILE - Thailand's Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara arrives at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. Thailand’s Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nugara, who is also a deputy prime minister, abruptly resigned Monday, April 29, 2024, after the cabinet reshuffle removed him from the latter position. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)