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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XII, 2020

King and the government. On 12 March, Prime Minister Manopakorn Nititada
informed parliament of King Prajatibok's opinions on Luang Praditmanutham's
economic project, which was said to include communist elements. Some members

of parliament who supported Luang Pradit brought their guns to the parliamentary
sessions on 30, 31 March 1933, preventing the parliament from carrying out its
st
governmental function. The military took control of parliament. On 1 April 1933,
a “2476 law (1933) against communists” was announced. As a reaction, the
government dismissed several ministers that were suspected to be communists
and appointed a new cabinet. Finally, on 2 April, the parliament was dissolved.

The Siamese government used the opportunity to drive Luang
Praditmanutham out of the country. Apparently, several members of the
government (Major Phraya Songsuradej and Mr. Prayun Pamornmontri – หััวหัน้้าคือ
พััน้เอก พัระยาทรงสุุรเดช และน้ายประยูร ภมรมน้ติรี) used King Prajatibok, who was not
agreed with Luang Pradit's economic plan, to achieve their political goals and
dispose Luang Pradit politically. In a published document, the King criticized
Luang Pradit's economic plan heavily, saying it closely resembled Stalin's
Russian plan. Siam, he wrote, Siam would not profit from such a project, which
would only cause confusion in the country. The Dutch emissary in Bangkok
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expressed similar opinions: although Luang Pradit was no communist, there
was no doubt that his economic plan contained communist elements. Also the
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American emissary took the same view: “…there has been a growth of communist
activities in Siam since the change in government last June (1932: the author),
but this is the first serious attempt on the part of a member of the government to

introduce communistic or socialistic ideas…” (Sombat Chantarawong, Nakarin
Mektrairat, Prajak Kongkiet, 2007: 86)

Chai-Anan Samuttawanich and Kattiya Kannasut, 1975. Documents on Politics and Government
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in Thailand. Bangkok: Thai Social Science Association, 278, 354, 356
Quoted in: Sombat Chantarawong, Nakarin Mektrairat, Prajak Kongkiet, 2007. The World and
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the Reign of King Prajatibok, 92. The English original reads: “Recently the cooperation in Parliament
to contemplate on Government policy was lost, because Luang Pradit Manudham submitted a
plan for economic development based completely on communist principles... Luang Pradit is
no communist but a fanatical idealist who wants to serve his country. He has studied in Europe
and now thinks he can implement communism on Siam. …”

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Pornsan Watanangura

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