"It may be a product of Denmark's especially close historical relation
with - of all places - Thailand. The white, or albino elephant is the Thai
Royal family's most sacred emblem. In the colonial period, the Thais,
understanding that they could not permanently fend off western penetrationand efforts at colonization, avoided being swallowed up either by the British from the West or French from the East by cozying up to the one European country they felt least likely to try to
colonize them so it could act as their sole window to the West and a deterrent to the voracious imperial powers of the period. That was Denmark. Danish, but no other, traders were invited to set up shop in the province of Vung Kak across the Phao Phya river from the Thai royal city of  Krung Thep. The ploy worked, Thailand alone escaped colonization, and lhe link lasted over the centuries. A Danish-origin family, the Seidenfadens, were the King's closest foreign advisors."

Ronald Hilton - 01/08/99