Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-16
Siam Blocks the Red Tide
Country Stands
Adonont Amid
Disorder
By Lothrop Stoddord

the center of an earthquake, roper
cussions from the Communist sweep
in China are spreading through the
countries to the southwark. South
east Asia, that vast peninsular ex-
tension of the continent, continuing
into the archipelagos of 1ndonesia
and the Philippines, has been his
torically connected with China itself
by many ties of trade, culture, poll
tics and migration. Ip all those
lands there is today large and
influential Chinese resident element
having close relations with the
homeland. Thus, any major change
within China would tend to produce
notable effects on its southeastern
nsighbors.
This is especially true of the par
ticular change in China which now
seemingly impends. The emergence
of Red China is bound to encour-
age and strengthen the local Com
munist movements which already
exist, in varying degree, throughout
Southeast Asia, favored as coNmu-
nism is there by association with
native nationalisms, antagonism t.
western colonial controls, and eco
nomic Embellishments, due to the
late war and japanese occupations.
Nucleus of Ordered Strength
In two of the three continental
countries of Southeast Asia-Burma
and French Indo-C hina-this COM
pick unrest has produced a highly
unstable situation furthering the
spread of communism in general
and Chinese Red influence in par
ticular. But in between them lies
a third country, Siam, where con-
ditions are much more stable ano
much less favorable to Communist
penetration. Siam today stands
forth as nucleus of ordered
strength in q region of disorder and
weakness. 1t thus becomes a po-
tential key point in the forging of
an effective resistance to the rising
Red tide.
The reasons for this relative SUI
|periority are neither accidental nor
superficial. They are rooted deep in
the country's past and its recent
national evolution. Siam has an
area Of about 100000 square miles,
somewhat smaller than Texas, and
a population of about 100000. Its
historic identity runs back many
centuries, during which it evolved
noteworthy culture and enjoyed pc
RODS of glory. Sundered from its
neighbors by well-defined natural
frontiers of mountain and jungle,
the heart of the country is the
valley-system of the Menam River
and its tributaries, on whose lower
reaches stands the capital city of
Bangkok, glittering with palaces and
gold-incrusted Buddhist pagodas.
The rich soil of the lowlands pro-
duces abundant crops, especially rice,
while other natural resources are
minerals and precious woods from
its dense forests. AS Asiatic coun-
tries go, Siam is not overpopulated.
Evolution Fascinating
Slams most notable distinction is
that, with the exception of Japan, it
was the only Far Eastern country
which successfully transformed it
self from an Oriental hermit land
into a genuine nation-state on the
Western model.
The story of this evolution is
fascinating one. Siam, like Japan,
deliberately undertook to modernize
itself along Western lines without
thereby losing its national and cul-
tural identity. And that, in turn.
was due primarily to the wisdom
and foresight of its rulers. Fully
century ago, a wise young king,
named Mongkhut, perceived the
peril of the waxing European
imperialism. Accordingly, at that
early date, he resolved that Siam
should stand erect as an independ-
ent, progressive nation in a world
destined to be dominated increas-
inly by Western civilization, He