Siam

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**Siam** or **Kingdom of Siam** (Thai: ราชอาณาจักรสยาม) is a sovereign country in Southeast Asia, ruled by Rama VII of Siam alongside with Regency Council.

## History

### Royal Scholarship Project

King Chulalongkorn had established the Royal Scholarship project in 1897 to send the peoples and royal members to foreign countries. The main propose of RSP is to take the knowledge back to countries and help the royal government to develop the countries together.

### Treaty of Tenasserim

After the end of the Great War, Siam has joined the Versailles Conference and amended the unequal treaties. Also, the United Kingdom and Siam have talked about the Tenasserim, the southern Burmese territories under British Raj's administration, Italy, and representatives of the minor power countries in Entente voted in the Versailles Conference about Tenasserim should turn back to the last sovereign such as Siam. Also, the Parliament of the United Kingdom has a positive opinion with Versailles Conference about Tenasserim. His Majesty's Government and Royal Siamese Government called the conference at Rangoon and signed the Treaty of Salween. This treaty shall give the Tenasserim's administration rights back to Siam in exchange of Siam must not station any troops inside the territory. This treaty has signed in the first quarter of 1920.

### Treaty of Ratnagiri

When the Anglo-Siamese treaty had signed, the annex part of the treaty wrote the Siamese Government can sign one more treaty with one of the colonies of the British Empire. The national assembly has a referendum signing treaty with British India for giving former dynasty of Burma's members can live in Tenasserim. In March 1920, the Treaty of Ratnagiri is signed by the Luang Praditmanutham, member of the constitution drafting committee, as representative of His Majesty the King of Siam, and Sir Reginald Henry Craddock, governor of Burma, as representative of His Royal Majesty the King of United Kingdom and Governor-General of British Raj. After the end of the treaty's signing, King Thibaw Min, the head of the Konbaung Dynasty and last ruler of Burma grated the title "Grand Prince of Tenasserim" or "Tanintharyi Maha Mintha" to the Rama VII. This title can claim the Burmese peacock throne of Burma if the Burmese dynasty couldn't claim the throne anymore.

### Toward the Constitutional Monarchy

#### Drafting the Constitution

2 years after the end of the Versailles Conference, Rama VII has been ruling over the country after the death of his brother, he has an idea to establish the constitution in the country. Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of State has strongly opposed of this idea. Sometimes after the Pound sterling boom during early post-war period, he decides to form the Constitution Drafting Committee upon the advice of Royal Scholarship's students, American and British advisors, then appointed the 20 members from Secretariat Council, bureaucrats, and foreigners as member of Constitution Drafting Committee. He appoints himself as President of the Constitution Drafting Committee, with condition of he cannot veto any passed laws in each conference. When the constitution has been completely drafted, the rumors has been spread out amongst the bureaucrats that some members of CDC are trying to plot to overthrow the constitutional regime and establish the dictatorial regime with monarch as puppet ruler. The constitution proclamation ceremony has been delayed until the plot has been uncovered.

#### April's Plot

In April 1932, after the 150th Anniversary Ceremony of Foundation of Rattanakosin Kingdom, the radical conservative's military officers, secretly supported by elites, are gathered with their personal guard, captured a member of CDC and sent the demands to the government that constitution drafting committee's works must not be continuing to carry out and drop out all of constitution plans in the government. The constitutionalist politicians and officers are formed to escort the captured member out of hardliner's hideout and prevent the plot to be successes.

Then, Rama VII has been escorted out from Siam to Malaya by constitutionalists for preventing any harms and dangers toward his majesty, with his family and several important figures. At the same time, position of Military Defender(s) of Capital has been established to exercise the military command on behalf of His Majesty himself, Phraya Songsuradet, Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena and Phraya Ritthi-akhaney have been appointed to the position via telegram from His Majesty's telegram in Malaya. Also, the regency council has been formed to carry out the works of government and oversee the kingdom during absence of Rama VII at the same time.

For several month after launching plot, the constitutionalist and hardliner are fighting within the metropolitan region, while the constitutionalist gained favor from Northeast, the hardliner are gaining support from some of the princes and local bureaucrats. Unfortunately for the hardliner, Rama VII never accepted their demands and still insists in proclamation of constitution. Until June 1932 when member of CDC has been escorted from hideout and the rebel's army are disillusioned. They surrender to the government; leading figures are pledged guilty to the court. On 20 June 1932, the constitutionalist is given the telegram from Rama VII that constitution work can be carrying on. He suggested that both Regency Council and Military Defenders of Capital will, on behalf of the king, sign the constitution. Because during living in Malaya, his eye developed some source of the partially blindness and must be taken to London for treating. Four days later, 24 June 1932, the first constitution has been signed and declared to the nation, three military defenders are together resigned from position and giving the power back to the government and regency council.

### First General Election

The first general election has been set up on the next week after proclamation, but only inside the metropolitan region. At the same time, his majesty has a royal command, via the telegram, to the chief ministers of all monthons to appoint the 2 members for the People's Chamber from each monthon. And the Supreme Council of State is expanded to 75 seats, the royal family can run for member of Supreme Council of State and acts the upper house of the national assembly. When the first national assembly was formed, Chao Phraya Thammasakmontri is elected the first speaker of the People's Chamber and President of the National Assembly, Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, the Prince of Nakorn Sawan becomes to the second president of the Supreme Council of State upon the royal appointment. Also, the Royal Government was formed as Chao Phraya Vongsanupraphat has been appointed the first elected Royal Chancellor of the Kingdom of Siam.

### Ananta Samakhom Accident

In 1935, Royal Chancellor has gotten the wound from hitting the rock from someone while the 1st National Assembly Conference stills going. And his only deputy, Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada has been appointed by the royal command to "Acting Royal Chancellor of Kingdom of Siam" and the national assembly voted to change the office to "President of Council of Ministers". He became the president of the council of ministers automatically while he is getting the cure in the hospital.

## Politics

### Government

Royal Government of the Kingdom of Siam is the main executive body and cabinet of Siam after the constitutional proclamation in 1932. After the first general election in 1932, Agrarian Social Party is one of the majorities of parliament but can't form the government because they can't rule the main majority in parliament, Chao Phraya Vongsanupraphat, honorary leader of New Nation Party, and Prachuap Bunnag, party leader of Khana Ratsadon, is decided to make the first coalition government. Chao Phraya Vongsanupraphat became the first Royal Chancellor of the Kingdom of Siam (a.k.a Premier) and he invited the leader of the United Regional Workers' Council, a former member of the constitution drafting committee, Pridi Banomyong, and former deputy chair of the constitution drafting committee, Phraya Manavarajasevee, to become the ministers in his first cabinet.

But in 1935, Chao Phraya Vongsanupraphat got the wound from an accident at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. Rama VII, with consent from parliament, appointed Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada, the deputy royal chancellor of Siam, became the acting royal chancellor of Siam and changed the title to "President of Council of Ministers" or "Prime Minister" of Siam.

Vongsanupraphat I
 Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada
 Luang Praditnamutham
 Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
 Phraya Sawnyudhaseni
 Luang Phibunsongkram

### Factions

In the national assembly and people's chamber has political factions have been formed by the main ideas from each party and political organizations in the parliament.

#### Patriotic Front

 Siamese National Party - Mainstream
 Siamese National Party - Traditionalist
 Conservative Party - Prince Boworadet's Clique

#### Socialist

 Siamese Workers' Assistance Association - Railway Clique
 Socialist Party of Siam

#### Reformist

 People's Party
 New Nation Party

#### Independents

 Siamese National Party - Progressive/Reformist
* Phao Sriyanond (de facto)