The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

20 Nicholas Tarling
prepared to come to acceptable terms with the regime, King Prajadhipok
dit not wish to place himself in its power. The difficulty was that he
appeared to be in the power of the reactionaries who surrounded him.
The outbreak of the Bowaradej rebellion made that difficulty still
greater.
Even in August King Prajadhipok had outlined the situation in
rather depressing terms to James Baxter, the Financial Adviser. The
People's Party aimed 'to bold on to power through fear. It cannot
tolerate the idea of any other party coming into power ... .' Only Luang
Pradit had a policy.
His aim is a Socialist republic. He realises that a Republic is
not possible at the moment but wants it as soon as possible.
His policy is highly to the taste of the lazy Siamese intelligenzia
which wants to break the monopoly of the Chinese and
their foreign commercial enterprises. They are too lazy and
incapable of doing it themselves, and appeal to the State to
do for them what they ought to do by their own efforts.
The Luang Pradit faction spread 'scabrous' stories of the Royal Family
with a view to bringing its members into disrepute. Unless there were
'some organised counter-action', it would succeed. 'The only politically
conscious class is inclined to Communism.' The People's Party aimed at
a monopoly of government jobs, and indeed the princes had had too long
a spell. Most of the Party were loyal to the throne, but they feared that
the King, persuaded by his relatives, would seize power. The extremists
wanted to displace the King, and hoped 'to manoeuvre in such a way
that the King wiU abdicate of his own free will'. The loyalty of the
Atmy·and Navy was- limited.- 'They will hot tolerate the King taking
active command .... '
Most of the people were monarchists, the King continued, but they
were quite unorganised. The 'hardened conservatives ... live in hopes
that the magical and supernatural powers inherent in the person of the
King wilL one day confound all his enemies .... • Such hopes inhibited
their action: indeed they expected the King to act, not themselves. The
'constitutional monarchists' shared something of the same view, and
were