In 1929 the supreme council was the main ruling organ of the
Rattanakosin Kingdom. Though the king was absolute, his own reforms were, ironically, playing against his projects of liberalization. As the ruling Supreme Council -and foreign advisors- had rejected his intentions to give the country a Constitution,
Prajadhipok is now in a difficult position. His countriy's policy had been to educate key personnel and officials in Europe. And this had a price, for these highly prepared people were due to see the unbounded power of the king as a shame for the country and a handycap for the nation's progress. What
Prajadhipok didn't understood quite well at the moment, was the fact that the rejection of the constitution made him look as a puppet of his own ruling council. Making the absolut power of the monarch an effective tool of the princes in that chamber, rather than the king's.
Nothing of this might had been a real deal if, at least, economy was going all right. But despite the fact that the world's economy was solid and nothing, nothing but NOTHING AT ALL made ANYONE believe that something might go wrong... the fact was that
Prajadhipok's reign had been one of austherity. The former king having turned the palace's and nation's economy into an accountant nightmare, much must yet change in the country before it can raise and take it's place among the civilized kingdoms of the world.
Thailand (Land of the Free, being the name's meaning) is yet the
Rattanakosin Kingdom, but is known already as the country who colonises itself. Lacking the sheer size of China or the industrial muscle of Japan, it has managed to keep itself independent through the storm of the european invasion of resource-rich lands. But at a price. What is called today "French Indochina" was before part of the Kingdom. And it's very clear for the king that only a consistent de-colonization phenomenon might give that land back to his fold. In other words: such objective is not even in sight. Too much work to do. Too much worries. Too much to loose if impulsive or foolish moves are done.
In these days, if economy is to be re-bumped, rice is the key to it. In 1929, the
Rattanakosin Kingdom was the greatest rice producer and exporter in the world. Which means being the main supplier to some of the most numerous populations in the world. The king, being in his own words "a simple soldier" has heard many times from appointed experts that the door to modern and productive agriculture lies in infrastructure and mechanization, but... how can rice production be mechanized? Its harvest requires careful hand work and flooded lands, which means no conventional harvester can be used with any degree of effect. There's no choice but to keep trusting in good harvests while new measures are carefully studied. But given the high variety of vermin and plagues that affect rice, such trust is a true act of faith on the goverment's part.
The military is something to be considered apart: being the only independent non european or american country in sending troops to France during the Great War, it is easy to assume the country has a strong or modern standing force. It hasn't. In fact, they are not a priority for the goverment. And they have been an easy target for budget cuts, just behind palace's expending. Given the fact that most of the young officers are part of the aforementioned group of western-educated specialists, this has led to some resentment. Something that is regarded positively by the king, as it denotes interest in their duties, rather than apathy. Howewer there's just so much that can be done -or guaranteed- in an army whose most modern weaponry and equipment cames from 1918 France's war depots. The "Crown's jewel" in the Armed Forces is the navy. A traditionally favoured branch of the military, but yet a fairly outclassed and outnumbered force, fit for coastal surveillance and little more. But with it's capital so exposed in the coast, the navy cannot, by any means, be ignored. An inner political war might start, plainly over the remnant of the military budget. At any point.
Lastly, there's the princes. the Kingdom has a great number of nobles with the rank of prince, whose maintenance pass a heavy toll to the kingdom's coffers. Though they have often resources of their own, it has only being with the new king that the mass of these high class has been mobilized in order to take actual responsabilities in the country's administration. Being them the corpus of public servants that has executed the radical expenditure cuts needed to stabilize the national budget. Even after this little known or appreciated service, it must be seen if these aristocracy and his newly found sense of responsability will be an aid or an obstacle for the modernization, or for the majority of the new western-educated elites.
Like Leopold II from Belgium, King Rama VII might wish for a better country to rule. But in many aspects he cannot wish for better subjects. His true Quest shall lie in keeping himself as common ground between them, till the day in which he can declare himself to be a source of prosperity for his people. The path ahead is treacherous, dark and full of dangers.
But heavy is the crown over the ruler's head.