Prajadhipok

“ The Cabinet You have said in your article in the Atlantic Monthly that the Governmental system of Siam is in water-tight compartments. This is perfectly true, but I think that it is inherent to the system of having Ministers each responsible to the King alone. Each works for the benefit of his Ministry alone and not to the benefit of the whole. An attempt has been made to improve matters by having weekly meeting. ”

“ If any things goes wrong, it would be attributed to influence of some wicked person and the foolishness of the King is being influenced by that person. People seem to have the idea that the King is a sort of nonentity who is easily influenced by anybody, and that he has no opinion of his own whatever. ”

“ It would make business much slower if the Supreme Council were not to sit in the Cabinet as any question decided on in the Cabinet will have to be deliberated on again in the Supreme Council. And since the King alone decides all questions, it does not seem necessary to introduce any complications at the present stage. If there is a Prime Minister to preside the Cabinet Council and who will submit the decisions of the Cabinet to the Kings, then it would be well to have the Supreme Council as a separate body which the King could consult and then give his final decision. ”

“ Another question which I consider important is the Chinese question. The Chinese are very useful in Siam. In former days they marry Siamese women and became very good Siamese citizens. But since the Chinese revolution, there has been quite a change. Now the Chinese bring their wives from China, and are determined to remain Chinese. They organize schools in which they teach practically only the Chinese language. There is a rather disturbing state of affairs, as we loose a source of good and laborious citizens, and with the new ideas in China filtering through, it becomes a latent danger. ”

“ The King has become a person liable to be influenced by anybody who could gain the ears of a favourite. Every official is more or less suspected of embezzlement or nepotism. Fortunately the Princes were still respected as being on the whole honest folks. ”

“ Whether all the sons of that Prince would be eligible to the Throne or whether it is only the sons of the Principal wife only who could succeed. The case has really occurred which shows that in the late King’s mind ALL the sons could succeed. In my case the son of the Prince of Petchabun was passed over by the expressed wishes of the late King. Now, many people find that the idea that all the sons could succeed was objectionable owing to the fact that some Princes have the most disreputable minor wives who are really not fitted to be the mothers of Kings. ”

“ At present the King alone has the right to nominate an Heir. It would be perhaps more logical to allow a Council of some sort to exercise that right when the King has not done so. This would be more consistent with the idea of an Elected King. 2nd. Question Should the principle of choice be admitted at all or ought the succession to be by birth alone, and ought there to be some amendments to the present law or not? ”

“ The Kings of Siam are supposed to be elected by the people. In former days a Ceremony of election was Performed. At the death of the King, a Council consisting of Royal Princes, Ministers of State and High Dignitaries of the Church was held. The Senior Prince or Minister then proposes that such and such a Prince should be elevated to the Throne and asks if anybody has any objection. ”

“ The position of the King has become one of great difficulty. The movements of opinion in this country give a sure sign that the days of Autocratic Rulership are numbered. The position of the King must be made more secure it if this Dynasty is going to last. Some sort of GUARANTEE must be found against an unwise King. ”

“ We spend too much on the Defence forces. I am inclined to agree with you in this respect, yet the cutting down of expenditures on Defence is a very serious responsibility. Very few people dare advocate such a thing, as we have too many experiences of the swashbuckling policy of our neighbours. ”

“ Anybody who has the ears of the King is always hated. It also makes backstairs influence rather difficult, because the people will now have to go to 5 or more backstairs instead of one or two. Having stated some of the criticisms against the present form of the Supreme Council, I would put the. . . 5th Question What is the best form to give to the Supreme Council? Is it worthwhile to make it a permanent institution of the country, or should it be allowed to die a natural death? ”

“ Besides that, it may attempt to criticize the policy of the Ministers, and as the Councillors are officials in the Ministries appointed for a time only, the system may not be very good for discipline. The difficulty about such a nominated Council has always been the question of recruiting the members. ”

“ If there are no more good men in the future, we can have no hope for Siam. 5.⁠That the existence of the Supreme Council lessens the prestige of the King. I admit that this is true, but I consider that the prestige of Kingship in this country can hardly be lower than at this moment. ”

“ They also say that the Siamese follows the India custom and wants their Kings to be born of a Princess of the Royal family. Such Princes are known as “being born in a pure womb”. They are the Chow Fa’s. ”