หน้า:พระปกเกล้าฯ กับ รธน ไทย (vol 2).pdf/71

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As a rule such organisations when once created tend inevitably to acquire more power. Accordingly such experiments should not be made until it is clear that, in the words of Lord Bacon, “The necessity be urgent or the utility evident”. I do not believe a Legislative Council would render the Government of Siam more efficient or wiser than the present Government. Also I do not believe a desire for some form of popular government is widespread among the people.

It is true that a period of depression such as now exists in Siam always creates some re-action against the Government in power. However, His Majesty’s Government is not responsible for the economic depression. Since in large measure the present unrest is due to economic reasons and not because of dissatisfaction with the form of Government it is not advisable to attempt to allay that unrest through changes in the constitution.

In stating the opinion that the greater part of the Siamese people are not yet fit to take part in the national Government I would not be understood as casting reflections on the natural capacity of the Siamese race as compared with the Burmese or other Eastern races where elected Legislative Council now exists. In fact the capacity of the Siamese for government has been amply shown by the achievement of the Royal Family and officials of the Government. The situation in Burma is fundamentally different from the situation in Siam. Burma for many generations has been ruled by an alien power. Naturally there exists in Burma a wide-spread feeling against English rule. Siam has been, on the other hand, always ruled by its own people and the Siamese people have been loyal to their rulers.