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

and three days commemorating the King's birthday. The King informed the
government the “Phra Pipatsattaya-ceremony” (the ceremony affirming one's
loyalty to the King) was to be eliminated as well, as it was not necessary any more.

At this time, many rumors were spread. The German envoy wrote in a report
that the King was planning to abdicate the throne and make Prince Chula
Chakrabongse his successor.
9
The rumors even involve a French torpedo boat coming to Siam at King
Prajatibok's behest to protect His Majesty.
10
Prime Minister Phraya Phahon showed his obvious dislike of the King
several times in public, including at receptions with foreign diplomats. The
government approved King Prajatibok's trip to Europe only after long hesitation,
and only under the condition that His Majesty would not return to Siam. 11

In January 1934, the royal fortune teller announced an auspicious date
for the trip to Europe to King Prajatibok and Queen Rambai Barni: 12 January

1934. His Majesty rejected the order by the Siamese government to move the
visit three months into the future, i.e., to the time after March.

9 See: Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amtes, Berlin, R 86066, Report of the German envoy
in Bangkok (Dr. Nord) to the Foreign Ministry, Berlin, 27 April 1933, J. No. 595/33, sent by air
mail on 29 April,received on 13 May 1933, page 4: “…Die Gerüchte beginnen sich zu mehren,
wonach seine Abdankung nur eine Frage der Zeit sei [...] ...angebliche Rücktrittsabsicht des
Königs und Thronprätention des Prinzen Chula Chakkrabongs…”.
10 In: Research study of the project by the Research Institute for French-Thai Studies (footnote 2),
The arrival of General Berthelot of the French Navy, ROUX Henri. Visite que vient de faire à
Bangkok le Vice-Amiral Berthelot, Commandant en chef des troupes navales françaises en Extrême-
Orient, sur l’ aviso ‘Dumont-d‘Urville‘, 18 mars 1933 + 4 p.+ programme (du 11 au 14 mars 1933).
SHAT. 7 N3341, 189
11 Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amtes, Berlin, R 86066, Report of the German envoy Nord,
from Bangkok, 8 January 1934, J. No. 36/34 (4 pages). This is the final passage: “...Dies fiel mir umso
mehr auf, als mir erst kürzlich von sonst zuverlässiger siamesischer Seite die Mitteilung zugetragen
worden war, dass die Regierung den König nach seinem Eintreffen in Bangkok scharf in die
Mache genommen habe. Sie hätte von ihm unter Vorhalt seiner ihm nachgewiessenen Beteiligung
erzwungen, den durch die Revolution entstandenen Schaden in Höhe von 3 1/2 Millionen Ticals
aus eigener Tasche bezahlen zu lassen. Die Regierung habe ferner die Reise des Königs nach Europa
erst nach langem Zögern bewilligt, aber auch nur unter der Bedingung, dass er von dort nicht
wieder zurückkehre.”

26 A Modern Siam with Constitutional Monarchy - King Prajatibok, The Siamese
“Honourary Diplomat” in Europe 1934

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