Page:บันทึกลับ (มหิธร, ๒๔๗๕).pdf/1



On 30 June 2475 BE, at 17:15 hrs, His Majesty granted an audience to Phraya Manopakon, Phraya Siwisan, Phraya Prichachonlayut, Phraya Phahon, and Luang Praditmanutham at Sukhothai Palace. He said to them: "I would like to inquire of you about something and to tell you frankly that, since I was given the throne, I have been wondering why I was chosen. Maybe deities wanted me to do something.

"They might want me to undo what Rama VI had done. I then tried to pay out his debts and fix our financial conditions to make them reflourish. On my return from America, the economy, however, became depressed. I feel that it was not my fault. It was due to external situations. But I do feel that the resolutions I effected were somewhat late and weak. It ended up that because senior and proficient figures were surrounding me and going against them was unlikely to succeed.

"In addition, I think that a constitution should have been given since the reign of Rama VI, and after I succeeded him to the throne, I became so certain that it was my duty to give a constitution to the Siamese Country. Once Phraya Kanlaya (F B Sayre) came in, I conferred with him on drafting its outlines, which, however, were disapproved by the Supreme Council of State. Personally, in the initial period, I wanted to do it at two levels: upper and lower. At the lower level, there would be municipalities to teach citizens how to choose representatives. I then ordered the Law Drafting Department to draft this up, as already known by Luang Pradit.