6 April 1948
Khuang forced to resign
The Coup Group, an alliance of military leaders who had launched the November 8, 1947 putsch, surprised the nation by demanding Prime Minister Khuang Aphaiwong resign from the premiership. The self-titled ‘Coup Group’ claimed they were not satisfied with the performance of the Khuang administration, specifically the cabinet’s ‘failure to lower the cost of living’. Upon receiving Khuang’s resignation, the Supreme State Council called on the presidents of the two houses of Parliament, Sri Thammatires and Kasem Boonsri, to ask for their nominations for the next premier. In protest, both house leaders declined to propose anyone.
Meanwhile, the Democrat Party held a meeting and resolved that none of its party members would join any government led by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram. However, leaders of the remaining three parties, who adjourned a separate meeting, decided unanimously to support Plaek.
By royal command, Plaek was appointed prime minister the same day. In turn, he appointed 26 new ministers, who formed the official cabinet on April 15. The field marshal’s new administration became the 22nd cabinet to take charge of the country since the absolute monarchy was abolished in the 1932 bloodless revolution.
France was the first nation to recognise the Plaek government, via a letter from Foreign Minister Pierre Eugene Gilbert on April 23. The United States government took an attitude of ‘watchful waiting in regard to the political picture in Siam,’ according to a US State Department announcement. However, with communist victories looming in Eastern Europe and China, as well as rising anticolonial insurgencies in Southeast Asia, Great Britain and the United States eventually recognised the Plaek government, despite misgivings about his previous rule.
6 April 1948
Khuang forced to resign
The Coup Group, an alliance of military leaders who had launched the November 8, 1947 putsch, surprised the nation by demanding Prime Minister Khuang Aphaiwong resign from the premiership. The self-titled ‘Coup Group’ claimed they were not satisfied with the performance of the Khuang administration, specifically the cabinet’s ‘failure to lower the cost of living’. Upon receiving Khuang’s resignation, the Supreme State Council called on the presidents of the two houses of Parliament, Sri Thammatires and Kasem Boonsri, to ask for their nominations for the next premier. In protest, both house leaders declined to propose anyone.
Meanwhile, the Democrat Party held a meeting and resolved that none of its party members would join any government led by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram. However, leaders of the remaining three parties, who adjourned a separate meeting, decided unanimously to support Plaek.
By royal command, Plaek was appointed prime minister the same day. In turn, he appointed 26 new ministers, who formed the official cabinet on April 15. The field marshal’s new administration became the 22nd cabinet to take charge of the country since the absolute monarchy was abolished in the 1932 bloodless revolution.
France was the first nation to recognise the Plaek government, via a letter from Foreign Minister Pierre Eugene Gilbert on April 23. The United States government took an attitude of ‘watchful waiting in regard to the political picture in Siam,’ according to a US State Department announcement. However, with communist victories looming in Eastern Europe and China, as well as rising anticolonial insurgencies in Southeast Asia, Great Britain and the United States eventually recognised the Plaek government, despite misgivings about his previous rule.