Government Policy

Unofficial Translation

Policy Statement of
The Council of Ministers
of Prime Minister
Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram
Delivered to Parliament
on Monday, 16 March 1942

Policy Announcement*

Mr. President,
Distinguished Members,

It is probable that the abrupt termination of the previous government, without the official declaration and supporting evidence, on 6 March 1942, might have incurred some preoccupation to the general public, in particular, to the representatives. Obviously, it is none to the responsibility of the new government to inspect upon the dissolution of the previous one. However, as this government is consisted of the vast majority of the previous Ministers, I assume it fair to support the reasons to the better understanding of the Parliament.

The previous government, directed by myself, had presented the formal policies to this Parliament, on 26 December 1938, better said, three years ago. At that time, the world was in peace, the Great War of Europe had yet broken out, hence, the formal policies were peaceful and constructing. During the course of three vulnerable years, the world was enraged; the Great War of Europe has begun, on 1 September 1939, which has continued up to present day, Thailand was war-stricken, from 28 November 1940 to 28 January 1941, the Great War of Asia was sparked, on 8 December 1941, with Thailand on the japanese side, and Thailand declared war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, on 25 January 1942. Having that said, the previous government was aware of the impossibility, rendered by radical changes, to maintain the peaceful and constructing policies, hence, the dissolution of the previous assembly, on 6 March 1942.

Persuant to His Majesty the King's gracious appointment of myself as Prime Minister, and the subsequent appointment of the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers has now formulated the formal policies to present to the Parliament, as follows:

First of all, it is impossible, obviously, to maintain the peaceful policies, during the time of war.

Therefore, the government aspires for the social devotion and sacrifice, which shall not exceed the limit of necessity, in order that the national security and well-being shall be guaranteed.

The government is determined to run the state administration, favorably, and to maintain the national order. All civil servants shall be supervised and discipline-checked, in order to render the beneficial service to the nation. The government shall, thus, suppress corruption, be it financial or of different nature, decree new laws, regulations and ordinances, which shall correspond to the current situation, and broadcast the government's latest news, to keep the general public calm and secured.

Naturally, the armed force is of great importance, during the war, thus, it is essential to enhance its capacity. However, the victory shall never be granted to those unprepared. Apart from the army and weapon, strong financial supports, are also required. It is obvious that war shall deteriorate the industry, hence, the national income. Nevertheless, the government shall maintain the national financial stability, circulate the money, and facilitate the national markets, as best as possible.

I am aware that everyone, under these same circumstances, must be concerned with the future of the nation. Therefore, I declare, in this Parliament, that the general public shall remain calm and reckful, as the incorporation, to the japanese side, respects the mutual independence and sovereignty, which the government shall furnish, until the victory is granted. In spite all this, the government shall maintain good diplomatic relations with friendly nations.

In this respect, the government shall heed special attentions to the economic development, as to raise the standard of living of the people. Apart from that, the government shall also improve the health care system, as to guarantee the life expectancy and good health, devoid of harmful diseases, in accordance with the policies of the previous government, i.e., the establishment of the Ministry of Public Health. Fortunately, our country is agricultural, hence, the famine is not commonplace, however, it is essential to support the agriculture, agricultural profession, and exports, especially to the affected countries. In addition, the government shall heed special attentions to the transportation, very important to the national developments, as in land, water, and air transportation, especially highways, railways, and maritime transportation, as for the national benefits. Although the government has requested for the national sacrifice in times of wars, mentioned above, it shall not neglect to preserve the national well-being, as seen possible. In this respect, the government shall administer the state affairs, peacefully, and implement efficient measures, as to suppress crimes and delinquences. At this moment, with the Martial Laws proclaimed, the government shall still not neglect the national educational development, in aspiration to compete that of other sovereign nations, in due course, by enhancing the textbooks, status of teachers, as seen appropriate, and educational standard, as to achieve the national uniformity.

Now, the ministerial policies are as follows:

1. Ministry of Defense
Evidently in the time of wars, the government shall maintain the royal army, navy and air force, in terms of quality and quantity, as to direct the wars, alongside the national alliances, and seek the national support for the military.
2. Ministry of Finance
As of the fact that money is indispensable for the warfare, the government shall amend the financial reforms, as to correspond to the current situation, as follows:

1.	Administer the credit limit, according to the national demand, as for the stability of the national currency.
2.	Maintain the stability of the national currency, in accordance with the related laws and situation.
3.	Facilitate the taxation system, as for the national benefits.
4.	Prevent the cash flow collapse, as of the wars.

3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

At the dawn of the Great War of Asia, Thailand, good friend of Japan, believing that the Asian New Order shall bring prosperity to the region, as well as, world peace and stability, made an alliance pact with the Imperial Army, stating that one shall respect the independence and sovereignty and provide military aid of/to the other.

Having that said, the Great War of Asia shall be soon over and the regional peace soon achieved, as long as Thailand provide the faithful cooperation with the Japanese.

Finally, the government shall establish closer diplomatic ties with the Axis, whose ideology coincides ours, and secure the national independence and sovereignty.
4. Ministry of Commerce
As to maintain the national economy, the government shall encourage the public cooperation, support private enterprises, and promote free trade, following these
steps:

1.	Improve the war-wrought trade system, by means of exports promotion, maximize the quantity and enhance the quality of national products.
2.	Provide basic and essential consuming goods, as to meet the national needs.
3.	Control the goods warehousing and prevent the consumption deficiency, which might occur at any moment.
4.	Subsidize the mining education and apprenticeship.
5.	Support the mineral survey, as to fuel the national industry with precious resources.
6.	Promote the home industry, support and construct essential factories, as to process the raw materials, and establish the Industrial Council.

5. Ministry of Public Health
As for public health, the emphasis is placed on the citizen increase, conforming to the quality and culture.
To achieve that goal, the Ministry of Public Health shall:

1.	Prevent and suppress lethal diseases, which are the causes of the national deaths, and implement efficient measures, as to ensure the child health care, and reduce the infant mortality.
2.	Improve the rural and municipal sanitation and provide the health education.
3.	Establish more health care centers and specialized hospitals, e.g., malaria, venereal disease, tubercolosis, leprosy, etc.
4.	Recruit new medical, dental, pharmaceutical and veterinarian students, in terms of quantity and quality, and enhance the medical knowledge of doctors and pharmacists.
5.	Provide the theoretical and administrative knowledge to medical assistants.
6.	Support the herbal researches, as for the enhanced knowledge of medical properties and the specialized medicine manufacturing, diversify the range of the national medicine, increase the numbers of vaccines and serums, as to meet the national requirements.
7.	Encourage the public culture and decent lifestyle, in accordance with the local requirements, and establish the social welfare for the underprivileged, handicapped, aged, and abandoned children.

6. Ministry of Agriculture
As for agriculture, the government shall maximize the productivity, both for national use and foreign exports, as soon as possible, following these steps:

1.	Enhance the quantity and quality of indigeneous plant and animal species and promote the exportation.
2.	Develop the swamps and lagoons, as for the fish nursery, and support the marine fishery.
3.	Continue the existing irrigation projects and implement new ones, in accordance with the regional requirements.
4.	Cherish the national forests and forest-based products, in terms of quantity and quality.
5.	Expand the loan cooperative network and establish other types of cooperatives, in accordance with the priority.

7. Ministry of Transport and Communication
Obviously, the transport and communication are indispensable for the warfares and economic prosperity, hence, the Ministry of Transport and Communication shall follow these steps:

1.	Upgrade the land, water, and air transportations.
2.	Enhance the post, telegraphs, telephone, and radio networks.
3.	Resolve the transportation and communication drawbacks and hindrances, resulted from the great wars, in accordance with the finance and human resource.
4.	Encourage the full-scale savings.

8. Ministry of Interior
The main priorities of the Ministry of Interior are: installing the national security and prosperity, providing the cultural and moral education, and encouraging the self-sustainable economy.
In order to achieve these goals, the Ministry of Interior shall:

1.	Police: Preserve the national security and safety, prevent and suppress the crimes and delinquences, by means of the enhanced power of investigation, derived from the administrative officers, revise the related laws, and increase the numbers and efficiency of the police.
2.	Administration: Enhance the efficiency of administrative officers, especially in the provision of education and assistance, as for the national benefits, in times of crisis, support the home industry, institute the good morals and culture to the people, and improve the local administration, in accordance with the situation.
3.	Infrastructure: As for the comfort, safety, and beautification, implement the nationwide electricity and water work projects and develop the city planning, by means of the professional design and assistance to the communities and municipalities.
4.	Land: Develop the national territory, which has been left abandoned, through the collaborations of related ministries, as to categorize the lands for economic purposes, i.e., forest, mining, and agriculture, implement the land reform, as to facilitate the land reservation and documentation procedures, and modernize the Land Act, in accordance with the current situation.
5.	Correction: Provide the ethic and vocational education to the inmates, as to become good citizens, and increase the numbers of the Prison Estates, as for good inmates.

9. Ministry of Justice
Although we live in time of war, with the Martial Laws proclaimed, the Ministry of Justice shall:

1.	Preserve the judiciary sovereignty.
2.	Respect and support the freedom of the royal judges, as in the trials.
3.	Facilitate the court procedures, as for the national benefits.

10. Ministry of Education
In order to meet the national requirements and developments, the Ministry of Education shall:

1.	General Education: Enhance the quality, efficiency, and status of teachers, modernize and standardize the national curricula and textbooks, in accordance with the current situation, extend the compulsory education, according to the Act of Primary Education, provide all-level women education, in all provinces, similar to that of men education, support and improve private schools, in terms of quantity and quality.
2.	Vocational Education: Establish the specialized vocational institutions, conforming to the regional and national requirements and priorities, especially in the affected areas, support the industrial developments, conforming to the government policies.
3.	Smarten the state universities, in terms of quantity and quality, by means of the specialized departments, and establish the pre-university schools and provincial universities, respectively.
4.	Support the physical education, by providing sufficient sports practice to students, as for the physical and mental efficiency, sportive mind, good citizen, and popularize the physical education, amongst the adults.
5.	Adult Education: Suppress the adult illiteracy, as for the understanding of the citizen responsibility and the support of the government policy, in accordance with the current situation.
6.	Preserve the Thai arts, especially the traditional wood craftsmanship, as to uphold the national pride and culture, support the modern art education, and adapt it to meet the national requirement, as well as, educate the adult, both for the knowledge and quality of mind, through arts.
7.	Cherish the Buddhism, conforming the Act of Monk Administration, revise the Tripitaka, conforming the Act of Monk Administration, and harmonize the religious affairs with the administration, as for the mutual benefits.
8.	Ingrain the morale, discipline, unity, and culture amongst Thai children.

The government is determined to act efficiently, according to the said policies. Nevertheless, the government believes it will require the cooperation of every parties concerned, as to achieve the aforementioned goals, and the unity of all Thai citizen, as to lead our beloved nation out of the global political crisis. In this respect, the government hopes the Parliament could approve the formal policy, according to Code 50 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, in order that the government could carry out all said projects.

Thank you.

*Parliament Assembly Report of 13/1941-1942 (Special 3) Session 2, Series 3, 16 March 1942, Page 266-277

Unofficial Translation

Back