Policy Announcement*

Mr. President,

Persuant to His Majesty the King's gracious appointment of the Council of Ministers, per Royal Command dated 24 August 1946. The Council of Ministers would like to present the formal policies to the Parliament, as follows:

1.  Foreign Policy

The government considers the foreign affairs as its first priority, obviously, because they shelter the national benefits. In order to run the foreign policies properly, the government shall act wisely, as to guarantee the international confidence, trust, and cooperation, from the sovereignties, which constitute the United Nations, evidently, because the said relations shall furnish the national benefits. In this respect, the government shall implement efficient measures, as to promote good relations and understandings with the United Nations and other sovereignties, collaborate with the said institution, according to the charters, and respect the international obligations.

2. Policy on Security

The government believes that the existing military force is solely national, hence, shall modernize the military administration, according to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, educate army inspectors, as to enhance the efficiency, and provide the better welfare and discipline to subordinates.

3. Financial Policy

The government has formulated the policies, in continuation and in accordance with those of the previous governments, as to revise the financial structures, by means of the balanced budget system, in order to establish the national financial stability, which shall cater for the national developments and the improvement of the civil status.

4.  Policy on Agriculture

The government shall heed special interests to agriculture. In this respect, the government shall support the diffusion of qualified rice strains, maximize the rice productivity, as much as possible, as well as, promote the planting of potential croppings, as to diversify the national agricultural products. In addition, the government shall enhance the efficiency of agricultural researches, establish the agricultural institutions, apart from Kasetsart University, as to educate and recruit agricultural bourgeois. Also, the government shall prevent and suppress the animal endemic disease, by means of the provision of veterinarians, vaccines and serums, foster the economic animal breedings, especially cow, pig, duck, and chicken, in terms of quantity and quality, implement efficient measures for the promotion of the national fishery, support and protect fresh water fish strains. In addition, the government shall improve and support the forest industry, in accordance with the current situation, enhance the quantity and quality of rubber, provide good rubber strains to rubber planters, initiate the existing irrigation projects, as well as, support the public and local irrigation systems, by implementing the construction of Chao Phraya dam, in accordance with the policies of the previous governments. Moreover, the government shall extend the loan cooperative network, establish other types of cooperatives, especially commercial and community cooperatives, as seen necessary, implement the transportation cooperative, in the first place as for the transportation of rice, establish the Bank for Cooperatives, and decrease the interest rate of cooperative loans.

5.  Policy on Public Health

The government is determined to extend the national health care network, improve the prevention and cure of diseases, as well as, provide the health education to the public, following these steps:

(a)	Establish more provincial hospitals and distrital health centers.
(b)	Manufacture and distribute the essential medicine, especially to the provinces, as to meet the increasing national needs.
(c)	Improve and increase the numbers of medical officers, in accordance with the operations in each area.
(d)	Enhance the capability and effectiveness of government officers.

6.  Industrial Policy

The government shall promote the national industries, as to encourage the public awareness, both in home and factory industries, which shall lead to the manufacturing of industrial products, support industrial cooperatives, implement the dense industry, and improve the management and effectiveness of factories. As for science, the government shall support the investigations and researches, cherishing the growth of the national industry, agriculture and commerce, as for the national benefits. As for mining, the government shall implement academic surveys on mineral resources, as for mineral ores and fuel, by means of better equipments, and support the exploitation of specific minerals, especially tin.

7.  Policy on Transportation

The government shall repair the damaged thoroughfares, affected by the raging wars, to the former status, as well as, improve communication and transportation systems, as for the enhanced efficiency. As for transportation projects, the government shall intend to consider, according to the priorities, in order to promote the national economy.

8.  Commercial Policy

As for commerce, the government shall regulate the internal affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, in order to achieve the outstanding commercial productivity and trade stability of the post-war era, as well as, support the domestic and foreign trades.

As for domestic trade, the government shall enhance the capability and liquidity of existing commercial establishments, and resolve the commercial drawbacks and problems, as much as possible.

As for foreign trade, the government shall run international campaigns, in order to promote the national exports, in terms of quantity and quality, implement efficient measures on the provision of consuming goods, at reasonable price, as to resolve the national misery, reduce the cost of living of the people, and meet the public requirements.

As for international obligations, the government shall, in addition, despatch humanitarian food assistance, as to relieve the global famine.

9.  Policy on Interior

It is essential to continue to preserve the national security, in order that the people shall work peacefully and collaboratively, enhance the efficiency of the administrative officials, as for the improvement of mental deformities, ethics, morals, and virtues, as well as, encourage the public awareness in the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, in accordance with the democratic government. As to achieve the aforementioned goals, the government shall follow these steps:

(a)	Local Administration The government shall improve the regional administration, as to relieve the burdens of the central administration, achieve the greater coverage, as for the suppression of crimes and delinquences and better local proficiency, and promote the mutual responsibilities. In addition, the government shall create the regional unity and modify the regional laws. In addition, the government shall support the municipal administration, which is not yet fully guaranteed in certain areas and not ready for the efficient operations in others, by improving the efficiency of municipal officials, and revise the structures of the pension welfare.
(b)	Police The government shall improve the police administration, in accordance with the regional administration, as to enhance the efficiency of the police and establish close collaborations with administrative officers.
(c)	Correction The government shall treat inmates, according to the Correction regulations, and provide vocational and moral education to prisoners, as for the brighter future.
(d)	Infrastructure The government shall support and implement the water and electricity works, especially in the provinces, as much as possible, and regulate the city planning, as to support the economical accommodation units, in accordance with the local requirements.
(e)	Land The government shall continue and support the policies of the previous governments, i.e., the distribution of arable lands, the facilitation of land ownerships, especially for the agriculture, as well as, the documentation procedures.
(f)	Social Welfare The government shall continue the existing social welfares, and promote the agricultural and laboral welfares.

10. Policy on Justice

(a)	The government shall preserve and respect the freedom of royal judges.
(b)	The government shall facilitate the court procedures, as for the sake of the people, and increase the numbers of royal judges, as seen appropriate.
(c)	The government shall establish more provincial and regional courts, as to facilitate the legal procedures and reduce the processing.
(d)	The government shall revise codes of laws, especially the Criminal Code, in order to preserve the rights and liberties of the people.

11. Policy on Education and Religion

The government shall continue the national education plans of the previous governments, enhance the quality of textbooks, in accordance with the national and regional requirements, profess the desirable careers, and promote the self-learning systems, through moral and religious activities.

Concerning the status of teachers, initiated in the term of the previous government, the government shall continue the policies, by improving the status of municipal teachers, in accordance with the efficiency, knowledge, and requirements.

As for religion, the government shall support and cherish the religious institutions, as for the sake of the mental shelters, believing that the education and religion are inter-related.

The government hopes that the Parliament shall grant the approval, according to Code 69 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Thank you.

*Parliament Assembly Report of 5/1946, 26 August 1946, Pages 112-117

Unofficial Translation