The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-04
World Front
by HARRY CANNES -
The Truth About Siam
Kind Words to ZamoFa
In ChiRa's Red City

AAAia HOfuS 10 AAMOfa
In ChiRa's Red City
I'VE GAN clear up some Of
W the mystery behind the
announced abdication of the
king of Siam, Prajadhipok.
Some months ago the king in
London decided to quit, and it
was supposed to be over limit
ing some Of his prerogatives. Now
the real story comes out.
There has been an intensive
struggle between British and jap
aneSe imperialism over domination
OF Siam. The Japanese have been
making great Roadway. One of the
Siamese princes has been sent to a
Japanese college. In the Southern
part of Siam there is the Kra PEN
inSula, which is very narrow and
has river coursing along half of
its length. For many years the
Japanese have been considering a
canal through this point, in order
to shorten the sea trip from Japan.
via the China Sea, to India, by from
four to five days. But that is not
all. The present route is by way
of the Straits of Singapore, around
the Malay Peninsula, and UP the
Straits of Malacca. Singapore is
the most important and most pow.
erful of the British naval bases in
the Far East, and in the event of
war the British could cut off all
traffic eastward from Europe to
China, or westward from Japan 10
India.
THE vanal through the Kra PEN
insula in Siam would negate the
value of Singapore. So when King
Prajadhipok showed leanings to-
ward the Japanese, the British
utilized the growing conflicts within
the ruling class forces in Siam and
forced his abdication.
The Japanese press discusses this
conflict between the Japanese i'm
perialists and the British quite
openly. For example, Ashai re-
Gently declared:
Considering the source of the
first report about the intention of
the king to resign, it is possible to
conjecture that certain country
(Britain) is at the bottom of the
plot. In the several revolutions
that have taken place in Siam in
recent years the trend toward fun
damental political organization has
been intensified, and opinion has
gained strength that Siam, in order
to free itself from the virtual rule
of a certain foreign power, should
join hands with a certain country
in the Far East (Japan). The GER
tain country Britain), perceiving
this situation, has sent to Siam as
It's minister a diplomat known for
his shrewdness, and he is now try
ing to check the movement for
political reform"
The British look upon the pro-
posed canal in Siam as of as great
strategic Importance as the Panama
Canal, and as an important base
for control of colonial markets and
a vantage point in the rapidly on
coming war for a redivision of the
world colonies.
AT its meeting in Paris from Nov.
n 10 to Is, the yellow trade union
international, the International
Federation of Trade Unions, could
not exactly avoid expressing itself
on the situation in Spain. A tele-
gram was sent to President zamora
of the fascist Lerroux- Robes gov
eminent, appealing to his generosity
and kindness to release the leader
of the Socialist Party, Caballero.
Why do they want Caballero re-
leased? In order that he may con-
tinue revolutionary struggles
against Spanish fascism2 Not in
the least. They prevail upon Presi-
dent Zamora, as good friend, to
release Caballero so he can func-
ton at the international Labor Of
flee in Geneva. They say not a
word about the $4,000 workers who
are being tortured in jail or threat
ened with execution. They want to
save the prestige of President Ia
mora and declare it would
be "a great blow to the
moral prestige of the Spanish
Republic if the representative Of the
Spanish workers is prevented from
fulfilling this duty"
The Spanish fascists will release
neither Caballero nor any of the
other imprisoned Socialists and
Communists to preserve its prestige
at the International Labor Office,
but only when they feel the power
of international solidarity action OF
the workers of the world.
nESPITE all of Chang Kai-shek's
" reports of the capture of Juikin.
capital of the Central Soviet Dis
trict in China, the latest informa-
ton we receive from China is that
on Nov. monster demonstration
was held in that city to celebrate
the 18th anniversary of the Rus
sian Revolution. More than 100000
workers and peasants took part in
an impressive demonstration. Three
days before the capital was
crammed with workers New houses
~ 10 araofaJ Iof1yrinS1U tn