Siam Satiety — Food for the Soul (Thailand During WWII)
In the last entry on Thailand in the modern era, I have discussed why Siam maintained its independence against the threats of colonialism in the 18th and 19th centuries. One question remained for me in this brief study of Thailand’s history. How did Thailand fare during WWII?
A Time for Constitutional Monarchy
Came time for Rama VII to accede to the throne in 1926, he inherited significant budget deficit from his predecessor, Rama VI. During this time, the Great Depression had swept all world economies. Thailand was no exception. In 1931, most of Siam’s foreign exchange was held in the sterling. With Britain abandoning the Gold Standard, causing the sterling to drop 30% overnight, a fiscal crisis followed in Thailand.
Photo: The last King of Thailand, Rama IX the Great, King Bhumibol Aludyadej
King Prajadhipok had many, many hot potatoes to handle. As the king, he would become best known for being the “father of Thai democracy.” Even during the early years of his reign, he was keenly aware that some form of limitation to monarchial rule was vital to the survival of the reign. He introduced constitutional monarchy in Thailand in 1932, peacefully so, following the heels of the “bloodless revolution” of 1932.
A Wavering Alliance with the Japanese During WWII Due to Internal Political Rifts
Thailand’s survival of the Second World War was itself a tale to behold. The turns of events arose out of contentious internal politics, outright defiance by official dissenters and the simple blessing of serendipity. Rife with a web of complicated developments, the country’s emergence from the war could not be credited to the decisions of one leader, or any projected plans as could have been foreseen by anyone.
To understand Thailand’s history during World War II, one must know the Thai prime minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram as a pivotal figure. With a military career commanding for the People’s Party, Plaek Phibunsongkhram were strongly nationalist and fascist. As such, he steered the course of Thailand’s positioning during World War II with sympathy to the cause of the aggressors. Plaek Phibunsongkhram was the one that changed the name of the country from Siam to Thailand in 1939. This was part of his effort to fan nationalist sentiments in Thailand by elevating the status of the ethnic Thai people in the country, as opposed to the influential and wealthy Chinese people, and other ethnicities, such as Malay, Lao and Shan, then living in Thailand.
Like in World War I, Thailand chose to remain neutral in the beginning of World War II. In the mind of Thailand’s military leader, the impending war amongst the world powers presented a historic opportunity. With the colonial powers debilitating from the wars in the European continent, they stood to lose their grip in their Southeast Asian colonies. Thailand looked to win back some of the territories that were lost to Britain and France in the previous century. It engaged in battles with France. Despite scoring a winning streak against France, Thailand lost a decisive naval battle in early 1941. Japan than stepped in to broker a deal. Thailand managed to win back some of the territory that it lost to France in Cambodia and Laos.
In 1941, Japan requested Thailand to grant a passage through the country, and it was met with a mute response from Thailand. Japan invaded Thailand soon, just hours after the Pearl Harbor attack. Thailand then made a military pact, in which Japan had ready access to the military facilities of Thailand. Japan would soon prevail in the Malay peninsula against Britain. With that, Plaek Phibunsongkhram thought that Japan would eventually win the war. In early 1942, Thailand declared war against the Allies. Following this, the Allies raged bombing campaigns against Bangkok.
Power Changed Hands and Thailand Had New Cards
In an act of official defiance, the Thai ambassador in the United States, Seni Pramoj, refused to deliver the declaration of war to the United States government. This would turn out to be a critical advantage to Thailand later.
In 1942, Plaek Phibunsongkhram fought Burma alongside the Japanese and Japan awarded Thailand with some territory. In 1944, due to internal political strife, Plaek Phibunsongkhram was ousted as the prime ministry of Thailand. The successor Khuang Abhaiwongse, although appearing to be friendly to Japan, contacted the Allies. He made clandestine promises to return all the territorial gains in Burma and Malay. To the United States, similar promises were made with regards to Indochina. Khuang Abhaiwongse stepped down after WWII ended, as an act to distance the country from the ramifications of having involved with the Japanese during the war.
A powerful political ally of Khuang Abhaiwongse, Pridi Banomyong, then declared that Plaek Phibunsongkhram’s declaration of war against the Allies were unconstitutional. In 1945, the former Thai ambassador in the United States and a leader of the Free Thai Movement, Seni Pramoj, became the prime minister with the support of the United States. Despite having the reputation of being “the Italy of the orient,” Thailand had not been punished as Japan’s ally during Plaek Phibunsongkhram’s administration.
With support by the United States, Thailand earned a seat in the United Nations and received financial assistance by the U.S. after the war. Since 1952, Thailand has been a steady military ally to the United States.
Plaek Phibunsongkhram would regain power again and serve as the prime minister of Thailand between 1948 and 1957.
Sources
The Wikipedia on Prajadhipok.
World War II Database, Thailand.
The Wikiwand on Thailand in WWII.
The Wikipedia on Plaek Phibunsongkhram.