SIAM'S NEW REGIME

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4325, 3 August 1937, Page 7

SIAM'S NEW REGIME

NO ALLIANCE WITH JAPAN MODERN NATIONALIST PROGRAMME Luang Pradist Manadharm, Foreign Minister of Siam, would deserve a place in any galaxy of modern Asiatic political leaders. This young Siamese intellectual—who received nis doctorate of laws in France and outlines the national policies of his Government in fluent English—was a very active figure in the bloodless revolution that has brought into power in Siam a new regime, dominated by the People’s Party with a typically modern nationalist programme, calling foi full equality with foreign Powers, an expansive armament programme and energetic development of national resources (writes the Bangkok correspondent of the ‘ Christian Science Monitor ’). In the course of the Siamese revolution Luang Pradist was accused by his enemies of being a Communist. But my talk with him in one ol the cool, high-ceilinged rooms of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is almost opposite the ornate royal palace, did not convey any such impression. The ideas which he expressed were very similar to those which one would probably hear in Ankara, Teheran, Bagdad, or any other Oriental capital of a Stat which is awakening to the impact of modern social tendencies and wishes to claim its rightful plats in the sun. In one small matter connected with my interview, the Siamese Foreign Minister gave a commendable example of the punctuality which all the new Oriental Nationalist Governments are endeavouring to instil into peoples whose tastes and traditions run rather in the opposite direction. He was only willing to be quoted on condition that my questions and his answers should be put in writing. As I was leaving Bangkok on the morning after my interview, 1 was a little doubtful as to the likelihood of receiving the text of the interview in authorised form before my departure. But it was duly delivered, along with several supplementary documents, in ample time. Siam’s relations with Japan are a subject of much gossip and speculation throughout the Far East, and this was naturally one of the first subjects which I raised in my interview. The Foreign Minister replied that Siam’s fortign policy was one of friendly co-operation with all the Powers, including Japan. He sepcifically denied that Siam favoured any special politico-military agreement with Japan on a Pan-Asian basis, and that any project existed for building a canal across the Isthmus of Kra_ Rumours about the construction of such a canal have at times produced a disturbing effect in England, as the construction of this waterway would short circuit Singapore and dimmish its significance, both economically and strategically. WANT TO SELL COTTON

Luang, Pradist declared that Siam would like to sell more cotton to Japan, just as to other countries, as it was part of the Government s policy to broaden the agricultural output ot the country and encourage other crops besides rice. Siam’s expenditure abroad on aeroplanes and other war material elicited a gentle warning in the last report of the British Financial Adviser, VV A M. Doll, who pointed out that the double strain of this outlay and of the homeward remittances ot the Chinese commercial class in Siam inio-ht create financial embarrassment under certain circumstances. the Foreign Minister’s reply on this point was as follows; —

“ Siam’s military expenditure is far less than that of other countries \\hat is beino- done now is just to make good what has not yet been done or has been left undone in reorganising the defence forces on a reasonable footing for defence purposes. Our policy is entirely one of peace, but as defence measures arc being strengthened throughout the world, it is natural that we should have to make good our deficiencies in this respect.” . , , In reply to a question about the mea sures which the Government favours in the industrial and economic spheres, the Foreign Minister referred me to an official statement of policy on this question The main points of this statement were that the Government might undertake public utility works itself, or in conjunction with companies or individuals Enterprises which do not fall under the category of public utilities are to be left to the enterprise of pn vato citizens, except in cases where it seems necessary for the Government to take the initiative.

CHINESE MINORITY. Siam has a large Chinese racial minority. Some observers estimate that out of Siam’s population, which is in the neighbourhood of 13.000,000, 2,500,000 are Chinese. The Chinese are the shopkeepers of the country, and own most of the rice mills, which represent the main industry of Bangkok [ asked the Foreign Minister whether the Government proposed to limit the predominance of the Chinese in retail trade and whether it favours the naturalisation and assimilation ot Chinese now resident in Siam. His reply was as follows: — “ Siamese nationals have hitherto depended for their livelihood almost exclusively on agriculture. It is natural that more and more of them should en o-age in trade and commerce in the days fo 'come. It is also natural that the Government should encourage them to do so. But this does not mean that foreigners will he excluded from trade in tins country. . • • Siam no less than other countries would like those foreigners who are permanently cstab lished in this country and whose interests are bound up with those of this country to become Siamese nationals.” The percentage of illiteracy in Siam, according to Luang Pradist, is about 20 per cent., and the proportion of children of school age who are being educated is about 58 per cent. In response to a concluding question as to how the Government wishes to hold the balance between modernisation and the preservation of old ideas, beliefs, and customs, the Foreign Minister replied: . .. “ The value of Western civilisation to modern progress is uncontested. In

order to achieve progress, therefore, an appropriate degree of modernisation is necessary. Our formula,- however, is not to adopt, but to adapt, which means that our aim is to assimilate what is best in Western civilisation, while preserving our national characteristics.”