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

The author at the Archive of the Foreign Ministry, Budapest, Hungary

Switzerland

Originally, Switzerland had not been on King Prajatibok's itinerary for
the trip to Europe.

Only after he decided not to return to Bangkok and visit London for the
second time, he did travel to Switzerland. It was an “absolutely private visit”, 47
and Their Majesties wanted to keep the trip absolutely secret. At that time, Mom
48
Sangwala Mahidol was in Lausanne with her three children. In the Siamese
diary, there is no mention of any meeting between King Prajatibok and the
Mahidol family, but such an encounter may have happened.

Switzerland was a safe haven for the Siamese royal family and two future
Kings of Siam, Rama VIII (King Ananda) and Rama IX (King Bhumibol), thanks
to the wise decision of the mother of the future kings, Mom Sangwala Mahidol.

47 Archive of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, 7.3.3/20, copy of the telegram
No. 26/7886 by The Charge d’ Affaires, Paris, 15 August 1934 at 1.15 p.m. to The Royal Counsellor
Foreign Office, Bangkok, 15 August 1934 at 11.10 p.m.
48 Copy of documents of the Bundesarchiv, Bern, Switzerland. Letter by the Siamese envoy in Paris,
16 August 1934 to Minister M. Paul Denichert, Head of Foreign Affairs, Political Department,
Bern, received on 17. August 1934, with reference to the phone call from the previous day, Copies
went to the customs office, and the flight station.

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Pornsan Watanangura

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