Siam

Siam, or the Kingdom of Siam is a monarchist, southeast Asian nation that borders Laos and Vietnam to the west, Burma to the east and the various Chinese cliques to the north.

## **The 1800s and early 20th century**

In 1868, massive reforms occurred during the reign of Chulalongkorn. After his formal enthronement in 1873, he announced reforms of the judiciary, state finance, and the political structure. An antireform revolt was suppressed in 1874, after which Chulalongkorn embarked on less radical approaches. In time, he ordered the gradual elimination of slavery and corvée labor. He introduced currency- based taxes and a conscription-based regular army. In 1893 a centralized state administration replaced the semifeudal provincial administration. The regime established European-style schools for children of the royal family and sent government officials, promising civil servants, and military officers to Europe for further education. The first railroad line was opened between Bangkok and Ayutthaya in 1897 and extended farther north in 1901 and 1909. To the south, rail connections were made in 1903, linking with British rail lines in Malaya.

During this time, British and French colonial advances in Southeast Asia posed serious threats to Siam’s independence and forced Siam to relinquish its claims in Cambodia, Laos, and the northern Malay states. Although much diminished in territory by the 1910s, Siam preserved its independence, and the kingdom served as a buffer state between the British and French colonies. During this time, anti-Chinese sentiments came to the fore. About 10 percent of the population was Chinese, and ethnic Chinese largely controlled many government positions, the rice trade, and other enterprises, much to the resentment of the native Thai.

Siam joined the Allies in declaring war against Germany during World War I and sent a small expeditionary force to the European western front. These actions won Siam favorable amendments to its treaties with France and Britain at the end of the war. Siam also gained, as spoils of war, impounded German ships for use in its merchant marine. Siam took part in the Versailles peace conference in 1918.

## **Cairo War and Siamese Participation**

When the Cairo War quickly turned against the favor of the British, the Siamese government sensed an opportunity. On the one hand, if they side with the British, they really end up with nothing, especially after the Japanese declaration of war. With the war dragging down the British there was also a chance for the Siamese economy to plummet. Now, if Siam joined the enemy, they could receive lost territories in Burma and Malaysia and possibly even control the Malacca Straits. After the Japanese declared war, the Siamese were worried about Japanese domination in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. With heavy reluctance, King Vajiravudh issued a war declaration on Britain and offensives into British colonial territory began. After 2 weeks the Siamese army made significant gains in Kelantan and Kedah. Perlis had become entirely occupied while Mawlamyine was won over after a 2 day battle, cutting off lower Burma from the rest of the country. After another month of battles, soldiers were finally stopped at Taiping while for the remainder of the Cairo War the Siamese would continually make advancements into Burmese territory.

After 5 months the stalemate had finally been broken after British forces were so depleted that Siam finally began to make gains in the country once again. In September the British government finally decided to lay down their arms and were prepared to sign any humiliating peace treaty that came with it. Half of British Malaysia was occupied, but Kuala Lumpur was never taken. Nevertheless, the country was experiencing a full on rebellion. without adequate British supplies Malaysia was in an uproar as people demanded independence before the Siamese army could occupy the whole country. At the same time the Japanese were busy fighting the stubborn Royal Navy in the Pacific, that were given specific instructions to not let the Malacca Straits fall, for the hopes of the British still retaining them after the war. There were many concerns, but Siam was given a seat with the victors (being one as well) in Valletta. When the terms came for the Siamese. their once warm relations with the British all fell apart after they gave their demands in the treaty, which came as follows:

*British Empire shall renounce their claims and authority in Tanintharyi, Mon, Kayin, Kayah, Shan, Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Andaman Islands and Terrenganu.*

*In said states, Siamese authority shall be instated and recognized by all delegates in the Valletta Treaty.*

*The Burney and Bowring Treaties will be rescinded.*

*Due to internal unrest in the British colony of Malaysia, Siamese authority will be further installed to ensure peace in the region, as with the occupation of the Malacca Strait.*

However, the Siamese delegation would enter into conflict over their last demand. Most of the delegates were not in favor of Siam having full control over Malaysia, especially since Kuala Lumpur was not even occupied. The loudest of them all, unsurprisingly was the Japanese who still wanted the straits for themselves. After 1 week of bickering, the Siamese were forced to alter their last demand. Instead, they (alongside the rest of the Valletta delegates) would install a puppet regime in Malaysia. However, the Malacca Straits would be a neutral, demilitarized zone, allowing free trade to pass with no real authority present. This enraged the Siamese delegation, but they did not have a choice but to sign the treaty. In the end despite some people being furious most were happy (at first) with the King's decision to go to war. Siam annexed considerable amounts of land, profiting from the extra trade as well. However, the war would come at a major cost for the country, as everyone would soon find out.

## **Post Cairo War And Its Effects**

At first the post war effects allowed Siam to prosper but only for a short amount of time. The economy went through a sharp postwar recession in early 1922. Support for the king quickly started to fall due to the peoples' general concerns with the man (such as the issue with his extravagance in the times of a major recession). Economic issues prevailed through the years, even as Vajiravudh died in 1925. Without any major trading partner available (the British were unwilling to revisit ties with the country), the Siamese were left with no option but the Japanese, an option that Vajiravudh fully rejected.

But after his death and ascension of his younger brother, Prajadhipok wanted to restore the faith of the monarchy for the people. With some uncertainty, he made the country persue greater ties with the Japanese. The Japanese, despite not doing great economy wise were quick to accept for the goal of making Siam economically dependent on Japan.

The population's support for the monarchy suffered a minor setback, but with the renewal of Siamese-Japanese relations the economy recovered greatly with the support of Japanese foreign businesses and markets.

However, the Great Crash and Great Depression halted any progress being made during these times. Over time, the Japanese and Siamese moved away from American and British business and recovered on their own time. The economy became worse than what it was in 1922, but by 1930 the economy was well on its way to recovery.

## **Collapse of Indochina and the Siamese land grab**

In 1933, the French were kicked out of Indochina by a successful uprising in Hanoi. The French would try, in vain to retake Indochina but to no avail. While the Indochinese were fighting the French, the Siamese pondered what to do. The French were kicked out, and the Entente alliance had faded. But upon hearing the brutality of Vietnamese guerillas, Siam stayed neutral for the moment, until in Hanoi Vietnamese socialists declared independence, facing increasing alienation from the Indochinese Republic. Siam saw this as an opportunity to easily take land without having to fight too hard for it. And so, 1 month later in May, Siamese troops cross into the Cambodian border to "protect the bordering provinces". They faced almost no resistance, especially due to the fact that the French were still at sea failing. The most problems Siam faced was from the resistance movement in the country, but Siam could handle it. But the problem occurred when Siam was stopped by a Communist Laos insurrection in Vientiane, while Syndicalist forces and Siamese forces began to meet up at the border as Indochina completely collapsed. Again, not wanting a full on war, Siam was willing to enter negotiations with the Syndicalists, and also just because they already received the lands they wanted. In Phnom Penh, Vietnamese and Siamese leaders divided up Indochina as follows:

*Siam is allowed to occupy all of claimed Cambodian lands, and in exchange Siamese forces leave Laos proper except for Nam Pouy. Siam recognizes the independence of Laos andVietnam as legitimate, whereas Vietnam and Laos recognize the status quo in Cambodia and Nam Pouy.*

## **1933-1935**

Similarly to the aftermath of the Cairo War Siamese nationalism surged. Mass celebrations were held in all major cities in Siam. At first, the Siamese hoped to pull Laos into their sphere of influence with the expressed goal of annexing the territory, but only a few months after peace was secured, Vientiane was overrun by far-left guerrillas who soon after proclaimed the Socialist Republic of Laos. This toppling of the originally conservative pro-Siamese government unnerved Bangkok, as Laos began to cut off ties with Siam in exchange for moving ever closer to Vietnam.

To make things worse, Burma began pursuing further ties with Laos and Vietnam, as all 3 nations formed a de-facto political anti-Siamese bloc, where Vietnam hoped to spread socialism to the country, Laos hopes to reclaim their occupied territory while Burma hoped to punish and decapitate Siamese hegemony on the Indochinese peninsula.