16 December 1946

Siam becomes 55th member of the UN

At 5.09pm Siam formally became the 55th member of the United Nations, after Prince Wan Waithayakon affixed his signature to the instrument of adherence pledging Siam’s assumption of the world body’s charter obligations.

Ivan Kerno, assistant secretary general in charge of legal affairs, and Andrew Cornier, executive assistant to Trygve Lie, officiated for the UN at a simple ceremony in Lie’s panelled second floor office. Prince Wan arrived in a blue suit with his two assistants only a few minutes before the signing.

He pledged that Siam would cooperate on ‘all aspects’ of the UN’s work, lauding the organisation by saying: ‘There are not diplomats here but practical men who grapple with the problems in a practical way.’

Prince Wan then delegated himself permanent representative for Siam. The signing came despite objections from the Soviet Union, on the grounds that there were no diplomatic relations between the two countries and (previously) France, which wanted to regain control of certain border provinces. Siam returned the territory to gain France’s support.

16 December 1946

Siam becomes 55th member of the UN

At 5.09pm Siam formally became the 55th member of the United Nations, after Prince Wan Waithayakon affixed his signature to the instrument of adherence pledging Siam’s assumption of the world body’s charter obligations.

Ivan Kerno, assistant secretary general in charge of legal affairs, and Andrew Cornier, executive assistant to Trygve Lie, officiated for the UN at a simple ceremony in Lie’s panelled second floor office. Prince Wan arrived in a blue suit with his two assistants only a few minutes before the signing.

He pledged that Siam would cooperate on ‘all aspects’ of the UN’s work, lauding the organisation by saying: ‘There are not diplomats here but practical men who grapple with the problems in a practical way.’

Prince Wan then delegated himself permanent representative for Siam. The signing came despite objections from the Soviet Union, on the grounds that there were no diplomatic relations between the two countries and (previously) France, which wanted to regain control of certain border provinces. Siam returned the territory to gain France’s support.