A Training Ship for Siam from the US
On 22 January 1922, the Siamese Chief of Naval General Staff approached the American Minister in Bangkok regarding the possibility of purchasing two or more small obsolete light cruisers, or perhaps gunboats, from the USN. The boats should be not more than 200 ft long, unequipped, for use as training ships with the Siamese Navy, and have a draft of 14 feet. Delivery was required within six months in view of the proposed recruitment of 3,000 additional naval personnel. The maximum length of the vessels was subsequently amended to 270 ft. On 7 February 1922, the US Government replied that in view of WNT Article 18 they could not consider the proposal.