Beach & Bangkok

The Siamese are a gentle people. Like the rest of the world they have their political difficulties, but nobody ever gets shot. The first of recent Siamese crises occurred a year ago when a bloodless revolution shook dozens of intelligent, inbred Siamese princes out of soft government jobs but left purblind little King Prajadhipok a constitutional monarch. Next Siamese crisis occurred last April when King Prajadhipok suddenly grew nervous at the increasing "Communism" of his first Cabinet, fired the lot of them. "Premier" Laung Pravit left hastily for France and a group of staid conservatives took his place. Again there were few objections, no blood.

Last week came the third crisis. Waiting until His Majesty was frolicking on the sands of a Siamese beach. General Phya Bahol, a leader of the same group that organized the first revolution of last June, posted sentries round Bangkok's government buildings, took over the government, then, the crisis over, dismissed the soldiers before most Siamese were out of bed.

"There will be no Communism in Siam so long as I am in power," said Phya Bahol. Ousted conservative ministers' resignations were accepted, but because Siamese like to do things nicely, each was publicly thanked "for his services to the country."

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