Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 1268

B160

SIAM

capitation-tax paid by all under Siamese jurisdiction. Postal Union on the 1st July, 1885.

Siam entered the Universal

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, vid 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 Pakuam, Meklong and Phrabad Companies. A fleet of steam and motor launches runs from the metropolis in all directions up-country to the east and west.

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In 1929-30, the total value of all imports into Siam was Ticals 206.713,078, and of exports, Ticals 219,772,893. The effect of the depression is shown by the figures for 1932-33, which are Ticals 89,497,423 and Ticals 152,522,494 respectively. ' (Ticals 1=1/10 11/32). During the latter year, the main exports were: Rice-Ticals 94,200,660; Tin and Tin Ore-Ticals 14,363,930; Teak-Ticals 3,312,029. The principal export is rice which in 1932-33 constituted 61% of total exports, followed by tin (11%) and teak 2.

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 male to its strength from time to time.

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, Aunamites 5.321, Shans_27,505, Burmese 4,880, Europeans and Americans 1,920, Japanese 295,, Others 87,422-Total 11,506,207.

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On June 24th 1932 a successful coup d'état took place in Bangkok, the result of which was the acceptance by the King of a form of constitutional government. Dissatisfaction with the policy of the new Ministers led to a second and equally bloodless coup détat on June 20th 1933, headed by Colonel Phya Bahol, who has been Premier since that date. In October of the same year, an armed revolt organised by reactionary elements was suppressed by the government. The Consitution provides that the King is the Head of the State; he exercises legislative power by and with the advice and consent of the People's Assembly, executive power through the. State Council, (which corresponds to a Cabinet), and judicial power through the Courts: duly established by law.