Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 1266

B120

SIAM

used to be imposed upon Chinese, but this has now been changed to an annual capitation-tax paid by all under Siamese jurisdiction. Siam entered the Universal Postal Union on the 1st July, 1885.

The first railway line, from Bangkok to Paknam, was opened by the King on the 11th April, 1893. It is a purely passenger line, having been unable to get any goods traffic worth mentioning, but the dividend averages about seven per cent. Another railway, a Government line via Ayuthia to Korat, was the first important line completed. The first section, from Bangkok to Ayuthia, a distance of about 50 miles, was opened on the 26th March, 1897. Another section, to Gengkoi, was opened on November 1st, 1897, a third, to Hinlap, on April 1st, 1898, and the whole line was opened to traffic in November, 1900. The construction of a line branching off the Korat line near Ayuthia and intended to open up the country to Chiengmai was commenced in June, 1898, and the first section (42 kilometres) to Lopburi was opened to traffic on 1st April, 1901. The next section, Lopburi-Paknampo (118 km.), was opened to traffic in November, 1905, the section to Pitsanulok in 1907, and the last section to Chiengmai on January 1st, 1922. The line running south-west to Petchaburi, via Ratburi, 152 km. long, was opened to traffic in the early part of 1903. In 1909 the construction of this Southern line was continued from Petchaburi, and has now been completed to the Kedah frontier at Padang Besar and to the Kelantan frontier at Sungei Golok. A through rail service between Bangkok and Penang was opened on July 1st, 1918, and the journey only takes 26 hours. The Eastern line from Bangkok to Petriew was completed in 1908. It has now been continued to Aranya Prades near the Cambodian frontier. The Korat line is being continued to Ubon. A further section of the North line, to Ban Dara, was opened in November, 1908, and a section to Utaradit and Pang Ton Phung, with a branch line to Sawankalok, at the end of 1909. By November, 1913, the line was open to traffic as far as Pak Tha, and the survey of the route to Chiengmai had made good progress. The war delayed the completion of the Northern line, but through traffic was opened to Chiengmai towards the end of 1921. The total length of State railways -open to traffic on January 1st, 1933, was as follows:-East Bank, 1,619 kms.; West Bank, 1,345 kms. a further 105 kms. from Bua Yai (Korat) to Kon Kaen are at present under construction. The private railway companies comprise the Paknanı, Meklong and Phrabad Companies. A fleet of steam and notor launches runs from the metropolis in all directions up-country to the east and west.

In 1930-31 the total value of imports into Siam was Ticals 155,008,887 as com- pared with Ticals 206,713,078 in 1929-30. The value of exports in 1930-31 was Ticals 161,518,891, as compared with with Ticals 219,772,893 in 1929-30. In 1931-32 the total imports amounted to Ticals 99,908,837 and total exports Ticals 134,206,840. During the latter period the main exports were: Rice Ticals 77,500,354; Tin and Tin Ore Ticals 13,433,267 and Teak Ticals 4,950,173. The principal export is rice which in 1931-32 constituted 57.8% of total exports followed by tin 10%, and teak 3.7%

The Army is small, but in recent years great progress has been achieved in military matters. The land forces of the Kingdom are divided into 18 battalions of infantry, 4 battalions of Cavalry, 8 groups of artillery, 2 battalions of Engineers and 2 battalions of Signallers. At the invitation of the Allied Powers Siam sent a contingent of volunteers, consisting of aviators and motor transport troops, to France in June, 1918. A form of conscription is in force throughout the country. The Royal Military College in Bangkok has been one of the principal factors in the improvements effected in the Army. The Navy is small, but additions are constantly being made to its strength from time to time.

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The last census was taken on July 15th, 1929, when the population of Siam was found to be made up as follow:-Siamese 10,493,304, Chinese 445,274, Indians and Malays 379,618, Cambodians 60,668, Annamites 5,321, Shans 27,505, Burmese 4,880, Europeans and Americans 1,920, Japanese 295, Others 87,422-Total 11,506,207.

On June 24th, 1932, a revolution, headed by certain military and naval officers, broke out in Bangkok. Various leading Princes were seized as hostages and an invitation was sent to the King asking him to rule as a constitutional monarch, The invitation was accepted and a Siam Temporary Constitution Act was promulgated on June 27th. Under this constitution the King is the, head of the state, and there is a People's Senate of 70 members and Committee of the People's Party of 15 (chosen from the Senate). For the moment the members have been appointed by the military dictators of the Capital, but it is provided that in due course they shall be elected by the people...

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