The author wishes to express her sincere thanks to the Ford Foundation and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, for their generous research grants during June-October 1975 and April-September 1976.

¹ Department of Publicity, Pramuan Kham Prasai Khong Phanathan Jompon Paw Pibulsongkram [Pibul's Speech Collections] (Bangkok, 1942), II, 3Google Scholar.

² Department of the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Bangkok, The Minutes of the Cabinet's Meeting, no. 49/2482, 30Aug. 1939.

³ Withayoo Sarno [The Radio Journal], “The Premier's Speech on the Auspicious Occasion of the National Day on June 24, 1942], vol. VIII, Aug. 1942.

⁴ The 12 Rattha Niyom were on (1) the names of the country, people, and nationality; (2) protecting the country's security; (3) the name of the Thai people; (4) saluting the national flag, the national anthem, and the royal anthem; (5) the use of the Thai produce; (6) the tune and words of the national anthem; (7) calling the Thais to build their nation; (8) the royal anthem; (9) the Thai language and the duty of good citizens; (10) the dress of the Thais; (11)the daily routine work of the Thais; and (12) the treatment of children, the aged, and the handicapped.

⁵ There were long discussions in Parliament over the decision to change, and when this was agreed upon there were further discussions on the proper spelling of the new name. Some members felt that it should have been spelt “Tai”, so that the country might identify itself with the large ethnic group of people who inhabited the then Siam, parts of northern Burma, and southern China. However, a decision was made to spell the new name “Thai”, with an “H”. A reason given was that “Thai with an ‘H’ is like a sophisticated girl with her hair set, her lips touched with lipstick and her brow arched with eyebrow pencil while Tai without the ‘H’ is like a girl who is naturally attractive but without any added beautification.” See Suparb Burnt [The Gentleman], 30 Sept. 1939.

⁶ Prior to the change Pibul had appointed a Committee to study the matter. The Committee decided that the Thai New Year's Day should fall on 1 Jan. The reasons were: (1) People wrongly thought that it was the Christian belief to adopt the New Year's Day on 1 Jan. In fact Julius Caesar originated the idea. (2) Some Eastern countries, for example, Japan and China, had already adopted 1 Jan. as the New Year's Day. (3) It was the international practice. (4) It. was close to the Thai ancient concept. (5) It would suit the Thai climate since January was the best month of the year. Suparb-burut [The Gentleman], 9 Feb. 1939.

⁷ Chirasawadi, Ubol, “Sapawa Tang Karn Muang Sethakit Lae Sangkom Khong Prathet Thai Nai Rawang Songkhram Lok Khrang Thi 2” [The Political, Economic and Social Conditions of Thailand During the Second World War] (M.A. thesis, Chulalongkorn University, 1974), p. 214Google Scholar.

⁸ Sri Krung, 1 Oct. 1942.

⁹ Kasetsiri, Charnvit, [The First Phibun Government and Its Involvement in World War II] Journal of the Siam Society LXII, pt. 2 (July 1974), 39–41Google Scholar.

¹⁰ Thai Mai [The new Thai], Thawee Bungyaket's testimony during cross-examination in the War Criminals' Trial, 22 Feb. 1946.

¹¹ The Minutes of the Cabinet's Meeting, no. 20/2485, 25 Apr. 1942.

¹² Sri Krung, 11 July 1942.

¹³ The Minutes of the Cabinet's Meeting, no. 33/2485, 1 July 1942.

¹⁴ “The National Culture Act, 1943”, The Royal Gazette (2nd Issue) LX, pt. 1 (1 Jan. 1943).

¹⁵ Pattanothai, Sang (Mr. Mann), Khwam Nuk Nai Krong Rang [Reflections in Prison] (Bangkok, 1956), pp. 243–44Google Scholar.

¹⁶ See Ratha Niyom, no. 10.

¹⁷ Interview with Mr.Jayanam, Pairoj in The Bangkok Times, 2 July 1942Google Scholar.

¹⁸ Department of Publicity, “Ruang Karn Suam Muag” [Hat-Wearing], Pibul's Speech Collections, op. cit., p. 38.

¹⁹ Sri Krung, 28 Jan. 1942.

²⁰ Pramoj, M.R. Kukrit, Si Paendin [The Four Reigns] (Bangkok, 1972), p. 645Google Scholar.

²¹ Damrong, Prince, [Prawat Chao Khun Phra Prayoon Wong], Prachum Bot Lakorn Dukdamban [Collected Dramas] (Bangkok, 1943), p. 81Google Scholar.

²² Quoted in Chandaraprapa, Sompob, Som Dej Pra Srisavarinthira [Her Majesty Srisavarinthira] (Bangkok, 1973), p. 371Google Scholar.

²³ Department of Publicity, Pra Muan Watthanatham [Selected Articles on Culture] (Bangkok, 1943), pp. 18–27Google Scholar.

²⁴ Loc. cit.

²⁵ Department of Publicity, op. cit., pp. 18–21.

²⁶ Sri Krung, 20, 21, 29 Mar. 1942.

²⁷ Sri Krung, 20 Jan. 1942.

²⁸ Suparb Burut [The Gentleman], 17 May 1944.

²⁹ Sri Krung, 27 May 1942.

³⁰ Chandaraprapa, op. cit., p. 372.

³¹ These two bills were submitted to the Assembly for expost facto approval on 20 and 22 July respectively. The Assembly rejected both Bills and the Cabinet tendered its resignation to the Council of Regents in accordance with the provision of the Thai Constitution.

³² Sri Krung, 14 Sept. 1944.

³³ Pibulsongkram, Field-Marshal P., “Karn Ruam Mue Lae Tor Tan Yee Poon Samai Songkram” [The Co-operation and Resistance Movement During the Second World War], Buang Rag Pracha Dhibpathai [The Beginning of Democracy] (Thai Rath, Bangkok, 1973), pp. 440–42Google Scholar.

³⁴ U.S. Archives, Washington, D.C., no. DS 890.00/9–3045, Pibulsongkram's Circular Letter addressed to Editors of various newspapers (Translated).

³⁵ Choopinit, Malai, Ban Tuk Chompon [Records on the Field-Marshal] (Thai Watthana Panich, 1946) pp. 58–59Google Scholar.

³⁶ Jayanta, K.Ray, Portraits of Thai Politics (New Delhi, 1972), p. 75Google Scholar.

³⁷ Kasetsiri, op. cit.

³⁸ Boonbongkarn, Suchit, “Political Power of Thai Military Leaders: A Comparative Study of Field-Marshal P. Pibulsongkram and Field-Marshal Sarit Thanarat”, The Review of Social Science, 1977, p. 196Google Scholar.

³⁹ Loc. cit.

⁴⁰ Apart from a short period as Minister of Education (16 Feb. - 7 Mar. 1942) Pibul held the other three Ministries thoughout the period of his office. See Borisud, Manoon, Ruang Khana Ratthamontri [The Cabinets] (Bangkok, 1965), pp. 134–42Google Scholar.

⁴¹ To ensure his firm establishment in the military, Pibul was used to elevating his supporters to prestige and powers. In 1941 alone, about 8,000 decorations were awarded and some 30 generals appointed. See Blanchard, Wendell, Thailand (New Haven, 1958), p. 122Google Scholar.

⁴² Iamtham, Pornpirom, Bot Bat tang Karn Muang Khong Nang Sue Pirn Thai (2475–2488) [The Political Roles of Thai Newspapers from the Revolution of 1932 to the End of the Second World War] (Bangkok, 1977), pp. 62–64Google Scholar.

⁴³ Pattanothai, op. cit., pp. 208–14.

⁴⁴ Boonbongkarn, op. cit., p. 180.

⁴⁵ The annexed territories consisted of three areas of Laos and Cambodia: the area known as Sayaboury, across the Mekong from the royal Laotian capital of Luang Prabang; Champasak in the southern part of Laos; and the two Cambodian provinces of Siemreap and Battambang. See Kasetsiri, op. cit.

⁴⁶ Boonbongkarn, op. cit. p. 181.

⁴⁷ Quoted in Boonbongkarn, op. cit. p. 196.

⁴⁸ For example, the Thai and Japanese Governments agreed to call babies born on 1 Jan. 1943 “Children of Greater East Asia”. They also organized “Maternity Association for Greater East Asia” installing Madame Pibul as Adviser to the Organization. 910 boys and 722 girls born on this auspicious day were to be given educational subsidies up to 20 years of age and were able to undergo medical examination and treatment free of charge. See Foreign Ministry Archives, Bangkok, Thailand, File Second World War (Pacific), pt. 12. Japanese Propaganda, a translated version of the Mainichi, Tokyo, 6 Feb. 1943.

⁴⁹ Foreign Ministry Archives, Bangkok, Thailand. Pt, 5, The Meeting of the Greater-East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. “The Establishment of the New Order in Greater East Asia”, Pibul's notes to Domei News Agency, 22 Nov. 1943 and Syonan Shinbun, 13 Apr. 1944.