Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-04
Progressive Ruler of Siam
ArOuses Interest of Nation

eminent Is TO promote the happiness of
the greatest number, the King told the
American reporters, and, according TO
reports from Siam, this policy King
Pratadhipok follows very faithfully. We
| doubt If quite so much could be said
! for the government of New York Why
not have q test which would afford the
King an opportunity OF going into this
political question much further? Let
| him give US for q year the rule he gives
his subjects in Bangkok; let the Siamese
capital have q years trial with Tam
many Hall in power. There is one pos
sible drawback for the King in this ar
rangement-we might not be willing TO
let him return to his native land at the
end Of the year"
While emphasizing that things will
seem strange to the visitors" the Oak
land Tribune suggests that they will
see the broad America which Is still
young and growing" and that "if they
stay long enough and go to the right
places, they will find what it is that
makes this q great country, and take
back with the laughs and bewilderment
much that Is worth while" The Chatta-
nooga News describes Siam as "a well
governed country with a strictly modern
ruler" while the Jersey City Journal
offers the estimate as to King and coun-
try: Siam, to American eyes, may seem
still to have long way to go before her
people enjoy those comforts of life which
Americans consider so eSsential-such as
freedom of Self-government and the
physical comforts of the machine age
but it Is to be remembered that Siam
has come forward fast toward the bet
ter things in Western civilization while
clinging faithfully to cherished ideals
Of the East. The present King of Siam
Is q master of the art Of bringing to-
gether the East and the West. Edu-
Gated in England, ruler over millions of
Hliterate people, he has had the courage
and the vision to re-establish popular
rights, to encourage compulsory eduCa-
ton, and, in short, to do all those things
which, since he was free not to do them
If he so desired, stamp him as mag
unanimous and far-sighted."
THE first treaty which this country
ever made in the Orient was made with
Siam SO years ago." recalls the Apple
ton PoSt-Crescent. The Dayton Daily
News, also referring to history, remarks:
Siam is one OF the few countries which
won the World War. In 1917, about the
time the entrance of America into the
war made foregone conclusion of the
result, what should the Siamese do but
declare war on Germany. This made
Siam an ally of its old deSpoilers in
Europe. The war ended, and Siam sent
an emiSsary around asking as its reward
that other countries make good their
altruiStic promises. They were ashamed
not to do it, and now Siam, thanks to
the war, has all its $4,000, 900 people
and all its 100000 square miles back
So it is fairly happy King, spite of
his cataract, who has come to visit us.
AS good and true republicans, we are,
Of course, tickled to death to have mon
archy in our midst. How all the other
ladies Of the great houses are envying
the royal guest! Take a good look at
the King while you can. He is just
about the only absolute monarch, bar
ring perhaps the President Of the
United States, that we have left"