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

The French Republic

In my opinion, the success of the visit to France in 1934 was based on
the success of the state visit in Indochina in 1930, which was under French
protectorate. Despite a number of unpleasant incidents in Vietnam, among them
heavy accidents that endangered the life of the Siamese King, Siam accepted

the King of Cambodia and King Prajatibok managed to restore the friendship
with France and “France in the East.” The French reported that the Siamese King
was a great friend of France, not only because of the eight years that he had
studied there, but also because His Majesty understood the country, its people,
and its culture. Siam was expected to play a large role in the defense of Indochina
against communism. 35
Ever since the 19 century, Siam had been of interest as a colony for
th
France. Apart from being rivals in terms of trade with Britain and Germany,
France during the time of King Prajatibok was also very keen on spreading
French culture in Siam. This was centered around the work of the Alliance
Française, scholarships to learn French, and establishing French as a second
foreign language in the curriculum for Siamese high schools. Anthropological
studies were financed, contributions to the National Museum and the National
Library were made, and the theater was supported.

King Prajatibok and Queen Rambai Barni were received with great
honours in Paris in 1934. President Albert Lebrun and his wife invited Their
Majesties and many other luminaries to lunch and an official reception in the
Elysée Palace. Their Majesties visited many sights in Paris, had cultural
activities, and went to the military academy Ecole de Guerre, where the King
had received his higher military education, after having attended Eton College
in England.

An unexplained negative incident regarding the relations with France
involved the meeting of King Prajatibok with the French envoy in Prague.
The Siamese King turned his back on the French envoy during the official
reception in Prague Castle, the reason for which is unknown. Further research
36
is necessary.

35 Report in French newspaper: L’ écho de Paris, 12 February 1934, The Siamese King's Visit to France -
The King is the True Friend of Our Country, source unknown.
36 Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amtes, Berlin. R 86066, Report by the German envoy in
Prague, Dr. Koch A.III.1.6.3, Prague, 6 August 1934

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

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