Thailand Heads Back

The National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated stations present the Pacific story. This is the story of the Pacific. The drama of the millions of people who live around this greatest sea, where the United States is now committed to a long-term policy of keeping the peace.

This is the background story of the events in the Pacific and their meaning to us and to the generations to come. On August 17, 1945, a solemn little signees with a business-like air Hurried through the corridors of Radio Bangkok.

As the music played, he beckoned the Siamese announcer. This special proclamation of King Anandamahidol has just come in, read it over the air at once. From the King? Yes, the King. Read it at once.

Interrupt the program? Yes, at once. The announcer signaled the leader of the music. People of Siam, we interrupt this program to bring you a special message from his Majesty King Anandamahadol. King Ananda Mahidol proclaims that the declaration of war on the United States and Britain is null and void and not binding on the people of Siam. Our musical program will now be resumed.

Snap that radio off. Why don't you think of that? No, it's the least. Country declares war and then when it finds it's on the wrong side, claims that the Declaration of War was illegal and therefore null and void.

Yes. Hoping to escape the consequences of its actions, if it were only a matter of declaring war, but almost directly after asking us for a non-aggression treaty. Siam picked the wrong horse. Siam did pick the wrong horse.

Not the people of Siam, at any rate, not all of them. But the ones who had seized power in Siam. The Wang people's sanguine and his henchmen. People tried to make himself a little Hitler.