Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1324

 1272 SIAM.

(SAYAM, OR MuANG-THAf.)

Reigning King.

Chao Fa Maha Vajiravudh, born January 1, 1881, eldest son of the late King Chulalongkorn I., succeeded to the throne on the death of his father, October 23, 1910, and was crowned on December 2, 1911. He is now styled King Rama VI, being the sixth sovereign of the present reigning dynasty. The royal dignity is nominally hereditary, but does not descend always from the father to the eldest son, each sovereign being invested with the privilege of nominating his own successor. On November 24, 1910, it was officially announced that until the new King has male issue, the succession will pass presumptively through the line of the Queen Mother's sons.

Government.

The executive power is exercised by the King advised by a Cabinet consisting of the heads of the various departments of the Government : Foreign Affairs, Interior, Justice, Finance, Public Instruction, Public Works, War, Marine, Local Government, &c. Many of the portfolios are held by the King's half-brothers and uncles. The law of May 8, 1874, constituting a Council of State, has now been superseded by the Royal Decree of January 10, 1895, creating a Legislative Council. The latter is composed of the Ministers of State (Seuabodi) and others, not less than 12 in number, appointed by the Crown. The total membership is now 40. In the preamble of the Royal Decree it is stated that the object of this body is to revise, amend, and complete the legislation of the kingdom. It is to meet at least once a week, and it may appoint committees of 3 or 4 members, with the addition of competent outsiders who must not outnumber the members. An important article gives the Legislative Council power to promulgate laws without the Royal assent in the event of any temporary (Usability of the Crown. At other times the Royal signature is indispensable. This Council has shown considerable legislative activity.

The Siamese dominions are divided into 18 provinces (Monthons), of which 17 have each a Lord Lieutenant, deriving authority direct from the King, and having under him subordinate governors over the various parts ot his district ; the eighteenth comprises the capital and is under the authority of the Ministry of Local Government. Several of the tributary districts are nominally administered by their own chiefs ; but of late years centralisation has greatly increased. Viceroys and Lords- Lieutenant, chosen by the King, are now regularly sent from Bangkok to all of these tributary provinces, both to those in the north, as Chiengniai, and those in the south, as Singora, and others, with very full powers. The Monthon of Bangkok is under the control of the Minister of Local Government, The 18 provinces are subdivided into 78 muangs or changwats, 409 am purs, and 5,042 tambons.

Area and Population.

Siam is called by its inhabitants Thai, or Muang-Thai, which means 'free,' or 'the kingdom of the free.' The word Siam is probably identical with Shan, applied in Burma to the Lao race, as well as to the Shan proper and the Siamese.

The limits of the Kingdom of Siam have varied much at different periods of its history, most of the border lauds being occupied by tribes more or less independent. The boundary between Burma and N.W. Siam was delimited