Policy Announcement*
Mr. President,
Distinguished Members,
As
the national situation is critical, I was called upon, persuant to the majority
of the distinguished members, to serve as Prime Minister.
The
Council of Ministers was formed and granted the Royal Command, dated 24 March
1946, as you might have already acknowledged. The government shall foster the
royal army, in order that the latter shall assist the administrative officials
in the suppression of crimes and delinquences, when time is called. As to maintain
the public well-being, the Council of Ministers has formulated the policies, as
follows:
| 1. | It is generally known that Thailand has experienced the impact of the Great War, just like other countries. In this respect, whichever government is in office, it has to face with many problems. The government shall thus intend to resolve problems, obstacles and drawbacks, either economically or socially, for the greatest national benefits. |
| 2. | It is essential that the government shall cherish diplomatic relations, as well as, good understandings, with the United Nations, respect the United Nations Charter, and collaborate with the former and other sovereign nations, through negotiations and meetings, in order to pay off or reduce the outstanding balance. As to achieve this goal, it is essential that the general public shall demonstrate unity, stability, and security, which, in turn, shall cultivate the international credentials. |
| 3. | It is essential that the government shall restore the national security, resume the quality of life, and harmonize the internal policies, as explained in other points. |
| 4. | Security: The government believes that the army is national, hence, shall improve the military administration, according to the democratic government, as to meet the national situation. |
| 5. | Finance, |
| (1) | The government shall negotiate to retrieve the money, confiscated by the United Nations, which could have been used to provide the people with food and consuming goods. |
| (2) | The government shall support the circulation of the foreign exchange, as to continue the foreign trade. |
|
(3) | The government shall revise the financial reform, in accordance with the national situation and social justice. |
|
(4) | The government shall stabilize the national currency. |
| In addition, the government believes the national developments shall be guaranteed, through the collaborations of civil servants, hence, shall improve their quality of life. | |
| 6. | As for agriculture, the government shall heed special attentions to agriculture, e.g., establish and support agricultural cooperatives, develop agricultural bourgeois, excel and support four economic crops, namely, rice, soy bean, cotton and tobacco, promote the planting of the selected rice strain, nourish indegenous animal breeds, as to reduce the imports, assign agricultural cooperatives to be major shareholders of the Thai Rice Co., Ltd., continue the construction of existing irrigation projects, and implement the survey, as to conceive the irrigation systems for the agriculturists in other regions. The aforementioned policies are long-term projects, which the government shall intend to implement. As for the current situation, the government shall heed utmost attentions to the following steps: |
| (1) | The government shall ban the killing of buffaloes, which are important tools for Thai farmers. |
| (2) | The government shall provide seedlings of model rice to poor farmers, in time for the coming planting season, as to continue the policy of the previous governments. |
| (3) | The government shall provide the veterinarian assistance to prevent the disease outbreak, which, at the moment, prevails in the central provinces. |
| (4) | The government shall incorporate agricultural cooperatives as major shareholders in the Thai Rice Co., Ltd. |
| 7. | As for transportation, the government shall repair, revive and reconstruct the main transportation system, as much as possible, and speed the necessary imports for the projects. |
| 8. |
As for commerce and industry, the government shall intend to resolve the high price of consuming goods, which troubles the people most, in due course, suppress crimes and delinquences, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, as to provide safe freight transportation, facilitate the transportation system, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transports, as well as, implement the efficient negotiations on the purchase of necessary products, as to reduce the price of consuming goods. Industrially, the government shall improve the administration of state factories, as to enhance the manufacturing efficiency, and increase the numbers of the industries, directed by cooperatives and the private sector. |
| 9. |
As for interior, the government shall intend to restore the national security and safety, by means of close and enhanced cooperations between administrative and suppressive officers, and, as viewed necessary, the military, as to provide the essential reinforcement. As to provide safe transportation system, the government shall implement special preventive measures. |
| 10. |
As for public health, the government shall implement preventive and suppressive measures, as to cure off the prevailing outbreak, which affects the people most, and increase the quantity of necessary medicine, by means of the fabrication or purchase, from either domestic or foreign sources, as for the greater accessibility and reduced price. In addition, as for insufficient health centers and doctors, the government shall continue the policies of the previous governments, as to increase the number of medical officers to meet the needs in the near future. |
| 11. | As
for education, the government shall collaborate with the private sector, as to
establish more educational centers and produce more textbooks. As for the coming
semester, the government shall heed special attentions, as to provide Thai children
with sufficient schools and textbooks. |
| 12. | The government shall preserve the freedom of the royal judges and facilitate the court procedures. |
Finally,
the government hopes that the Parliament would have well listened to the formal
policies and continue the consideration, according to Code 50 of the Constitution.
Thank you.
*Parliament Assembly Report of 16/2489, Session 2, Series 4, 25 March 1946, Pages 767-771
Unofficial Translation