Policy Announcement*
Mr. President,
Distinguished
Members,
Persuant
to His Majesty the King's gracious appointment of myself as Prime Minister, per
Royal Command dated 10 November 1947, and the subsequent appointment of the Council
of Ministers, per Royal Command dated 11 November 1947. The Council of Ministers
has now formulated the formal policies to present the formal policies to the Parliament,
according to Code 77 and 96 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, and
obtain its kind approval, as follows:
1. Foreign Policy
As
for foreign affairs, the royal government shall respect international obligations,
befriend the friendly nations, support the United Nations, and collaborate whole-heartedly
in the activities of the said institution.
2. Interior Policy
| 1)
| The government shall suppress crimes and delinquences and, in this respect, enhance the efficiency of administrative officers and police. |
| 2)
| As for the national well-beings, the government shall implement efficient measures on the provision of essential consuming goods to the public, and support the social welfare for different professions, in particular, the elders, handicapped and abandonned. |
| 3)
| The government shall improve the structure
of the regional administration. As for the local administration, the government shall revise the structure, as for the national benefits. |
3. Policy on Justice
The
government shall respect the freedom of royal judges, establish the justice of
royal courts, as to preserve the rights and liberties of the public, as well as,
facilitate the court procedures.
4. Policy on Security
As
to implement the military reform, in accordance with the democratic administration:
| 1)
| The government shall nationalize the royal army, excluding it from the politics and politician cycles. |
| 2)
| The government shall maintain the eligible army, as to protect the national independence and sovereignty, be it in peace or at war, in accordance with the national situation. |
| 3)
| The government shall enhance the efficiency of all-level military supervisors, both professionally and administratively, and provide the efficient education to military privates, in terms of scientific and vocational studies, in accordance with the ranks and responsibilities. |
| 4) | The government shall enforce the standardized military regulations and discipline, promote the military welfares, as for medical and recreational purposes. |
Also,
the government shall enhance and support the veteran administration, as seen appropriate.
5. Commercial Policy
| 1)
| The government shall furnish the national well-being, reduce or maintain the price of the consuming goods. As for international obligations, the government shall respect and despatch the rice. |
| 2)
| The government shall reduce the cost of living of the people, as much as possible. |
| 3)
| The government shall promote the national exports, in order to attract the foreign currency, as to meet the national requirements. |
| 4) | The government shall support the national trade, as for the sake of manufacturers, traders and consumers. |
6. Financial Policy
| 1)
| The government shall implement the new financial system, protect national vaults, and proceed financial transactions, according to the financial laws. |
| 2)
| The government shall balance the revenue and the expenditure, as to peg the Baht value at the appropriate level, in order to improve the quality of life of the people. |
| 3)
| The government shall create the financial confidence, as to support the national industry and agriculture. |
7. Policy on Transportation
| 1)
| As for the land and water transportation, post, telegraphs, and telephone, affected by the great wars, the government shall implement the reparations, especially the railway system, as for the national benefits. |
| 2)
| As for construction, the government shall consider the implementation of new prioritary projects, i.e., telephone, highways, and port, and establish Thailand as the air junction for the Far East. |
8. Policy on Education and Religion
| 1)
| The government shall provide the educational measures, in terms of quantity and quality, as to ensure the democratic growth. |
| 2)
| The government shall modify the curricula, in accordance with the national requirements. |
| 3)
| The government shall ingrain morals, ethics, and discipline in students. |
| 4)
| The government shall provide sufficient textbooks, as to meet the national needs. |
| 5) | The government shall maintain and support the status of teachers. |
| 6) | The government shall institute the kindergartens. |
| 7) | The government shall support the religious affairs. |
9. Policy on Public Health
| 1)
| The government shall ameliorate the quality and efficiency of doctors, by providing the extra education, especially in public health, as well as, granting the scholarships for the study abroad. |
| 2)
| The government shall construct new provincial hospitals, especially for the affected areas, establish the regional hospitals, as to cater for the provincial ones, distribute the medical expertise to the provinces, and improve the municipal hospitals. |
| 3)
| The welfare for Mother and Child is one of the national priorities, hence, the government shall enhance the gynaecological network, by recruiting sufficient gynaecologists and establishing Mother and Child welfare stations. |
| 4)
| The government shall cure off the endemic diseases, by establishing the mobile preventive and protective units. |
10. Industrial Policy
The
government shall support the national industry, especially home industry, and
implement the provision of industrial basics and general tools.
11. Agricultural Policy
| 1)
| The government shall support the agriculture, in terms of the quantity and quality, especially rice, cotton, and bean, and, in this respect, establish the Agricultural Council, as for the useful advices. |
| 2)
| The government shall maintain and protect the forests and support the fishery, as for the sake of the future generations. |
| 3)
| The government shall support the pasture, by diversifying animal breedings and suppressing animal epidemics. |
| 4)
| The government shall support the local irrigation, as to guarantee the agricultural capacity. |
| 5) | The government shall expand the cooperative network and encourage the public awareness in cooperative benefits. |
In
addition, the government shall deal with these special issues:
1) Royal Decease
2) Corruption
3) Cost of Living
4) Civil Effectiveness
The
key policies of the royal government are aforementioned. Should the Parliament
agree upon the principles, the government hopes the distinguished members could
coordinate with us, whole-heartedly. Our beloved country is like a fragile person,
lost in the deep jungle, who has just seen the first glimpses of light and, with
our unity, shall find the way out to the fertile land. The government hopes, given
the continuous reputation and good deeds rendered by the members of this Senate,
all of you should cooperate with us, as to commence the new era, as for the sake
of the national prosperity and future generations.
Finally,
I would like to add that the government is here to answer your questions. Should
you have any queries on whichever policy, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank
you.
*Senate Meeting Report of 2/1947, 27 November 1947, Pages 20-26
Unofficial Translation