Policy Announcement*

Mr. President,

As the national situation is critical, I was called upon, persuant to the distinguished members, to serve as Prime Minister.

The Council of Ministers was formed and granted the Royal Command dated 11 June 1946, as you might have already acknowledged. The Council of Ministers has now formulated the formal policies to present to the Parliament, as follows:

1.	Although the national situations, as for the state administration, cost of living, and national security, might have demonstrated its subsidence, it is still critical. Hence, the government shall intend to alleviate the national problems, as for the benefits of the people, and establish the public well-being.
2.	Foreign Affairs: As evident, it is essential to establish good relations with the United Nations and other sovereignties, as well as, enhance the international confidence. In this respect, the government shall intend to tighten the existing ties and good understandings with the United Nations, and collaborate with the latter, according to the ideals established by the said institution. In addition, the government aspires to obtain the approval from the Parliament, as some issues on foreign affairs are purely based on the national policies, and to show the world that Thais are all unified, peaceful and neutral, the qualities described in the United Nations' Mandate.
3.	Security: The government believes the military force is for the national protection. In this respect, the government shall maintain the royal army, according to the democratic administration, appropriate for our nation, excel the knowledge of supervisors, improve the military welfare, and encourage the military discipline.
4.	Finance: The government shall implement the appropriate fund-raising scheme, as to suffice the restoration of the country.

The government shall improve the revenue and expenditure, as for the national budget balance.

The government shall stabilize the currency, at reasonable level, as to create appropriate economic circumstances, in order that the relation between the product price and wage shall be restored and the commerce and economy shall base upon the secure foundation.

5.

Agriculture: The government shall heed special attentions to the agriculture. In this respect, the government shall maximize the agricultural, especially rice, productivities, support the planting of other economic crops, establish the institutions for agricultural practices, apart from Kasetsart University, educate and recruit agricultural bourgeois. Also, the government shall provide sufficient vaccines, as to cure off major animal outbreaks and improve the efficiency and quality of animal breedings, especially cow, pig, duck, and chicken, implement fish nurseries, as to provide the social justice for the commercial fishery, support the rubber plantation, as to increase the total productivity and provide good rubber strain models. In addition, the government shall revise the reforestation scheme, as to meet the current situation, construct the irrigation systems for the Chao Phraya basin, as well as other related projects, support the local irrigation system, promote the cooperatives, especially the transportation cooperative, in the first place, as to provide efficient means of the transportation of rice, and establish the special Cooperative Bank, as to reduce the current interest on cooperative loans.

6.

Public Health: As evident, the four health foundations, namely, doctors, medicine, cure, and prevention, are not yet fully guaranteed. In this respect, the government shall implement continuous developments, i.e., increase the numbers of qualified doctors, manufacture the medicine in greater volumes and in wider ranges, as to meet the national needs, sufficing those missing with the imports, both from domestic and international sources, establish new provincial hospitals, provide more medical tools, as to meet the increasing demand. In addition, the government shall prevent the contagious outbreak, by means of sufficient medical officers, especially in the affected areas, provide the essential medicine to the provinces, encourage the education in public health, hygiene, and self-prevention, either in schools or for general public.

In addition, the smallpox and cholera outbreak have already subsided, but not yet extinguished. In this respect, the government shall encourage the nationwide outbreak eradication and provide special preventive treatments, as for the next two or three years, for the suppression of major outbreaks. As for malaria, which prevails in certain areas, the government shall also intend to reduce the outbreak.

7.

Industry: The government shall improve the internal management of the factories, as to enhance the industrial capacity in the overall productivity, increase the numbers of private industries and cooperatives, implement scientific researches, as to support the national industry, agriculture, and commerce, and register the national benefits. As for mineral resources, the government shall implement academic researches and conduct mineral surveys, in search for minerals, fuel, raw materials, i.e., coal and petroleum, etc., as to substitute wood, support miners, by means of sufficient mining tools, as to increase the tin productivity.

8.

Transportation: The government shall improve and maintain the communication, railways, highways, land, water, and air transportations to the pre-war status.

In addition, the government shall implement essential projects, in accordance with the national budget and personnel.

9.

Commerce: The government shall enhance the efficiency of the administration in the Ministry of Commerce, as for the post-war commerce, promote and control the national and international trades, as to meet the national economy, and increase the standard of living of the people, in accordance with the current situation.

As for domestic trade, the government shall encourage the national commerce and establish cooperatives, as for the sake of Thai farmers.

As for foreign trade, the government shall support and promote Thai products in international markets, by enhancing both the quality and quantity.

10.

Interior: The government shall restore the national security, by suppressing crimes and delinquences, as well as, support and secure the profession of the people, as to achieve the pre-war cost of living, through the collaborations of related organizations and ministries. At this moment, when the wars have just terminated, there arises the degradation of the quality of mind, which the government shall intend to resolve, by providing the educational assistance and encouraging the public awareness in the responsibilities of the citizens, in accordance with the democratic government.

As to achieve the aforementioned goals, the government shall follow these steps:

(a)	Police: The government shall enhance the efficiency of the police, as to strengthen the capacity of suppressive officers, and implement the close collaborations with administrative officers.
(b)	Local Administration: Apart from enhancing the efficiency of administrative officers, the government shall revise the administration system, as to cherish the developments of the villages and municipalities.
(c)	Correction: The government shall treat inmates, in accordance with the Correction Regulations and provide the vocational education to criminals.
(d)	Infrastructure: The government shall support and continue the water and electricity projects, as for the facilitation and safety of the communities, and implement efficient measures on the city planning, as for the construction of economical accommodation units, in accordance with the local requirements.
(e)	Land: The government shall support and improve the operations of the previous governments, i.e., provide the legal assistance for willful agriculturists, as for the ownership of abandoned land and facilitate the documentation procedures.
(f)	Social Welfare: The government shall continue the existing social welfare projects and, as appropriate, extend the social welfare network.

11.

Justice:

(a)	The government shall preserve and respect the freedom of the royal courts.
(b)	The government shall facilitate the court procedures, as for the national benefits, and increase the numbers of royal judges, in accordance with the numbers of presented cases.
(c)	The government shall establish more regional courts, as to facilitate the public and related individuals.
(d)	The government shall revise the judiciary acts and related codes of laws, in accordance with the current situation, as to preserve the rights and liberties of the people.

12.

Education and Religion: The government shall standardize the national education, conforming to the formal and vocational education guidelines, improve the national textbooks, according to the national and regional needs, as to encourage the self-learning method and good morals, and profess the desirable careers, especially in agricultural and commercial fields.

Good education originates from good teacher, hence, the Ministry of Education shall be responsible for the support of the teaching profession.

As for religion, the government shall support and cherish the religions, as the religious faith promotes the refraining from undesirable actions. The government believes the education and religion are inter-related, as the learned shall conform to good morals.

Finally, the government hopes the Parliament would have well listened to our policies and shall grant us the kind approval, according to Code 69 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Thank you.

*Parliament Assembly of 13 June 1946, Pages 10-15.

Unofficial Translation