RISING TENSION IN SIAM

Chronicle (Levin), 19 December 1949, Page 5

RISING TENSION IN SIAM

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

I Wild Rumours That Red Coup Is Imminent

Coixuriaht J

Received Monday, 9.30 a.m.BANGKOK, Dec. 18. The police-and military forces, armed with machine-guns and rifles, threw road blocks across Bangkok's main thoroughfares linkmg the city with the airport and principal military .zone last night as rumours spread of tension over the Communist threat and of • unrest among the Siamese armed forees. j Security patrols are making day and night tours of potential trouble spots, mostly in Bangkok's Chinatown, where 300,000 Chinese live. 1 Wild rumours that a Communist coup d'etat is imminent are taking a ready hold on the populace. Tension in the city has been prompted' by the fact that the nation faceS the external threat of the Chinese armies and i'nternal threats from armed serviees plot groups reported to be under political inspiration and financed and given encouragement from Siam's 4,000,000 Chinese minority. It was learned officially today that the Siamese Government intends to carry on its policy of resisting Communism, but according to reliable sources both the political and defence chiefs have the gravest doubts as to the nation 's ability to withstand prolonged Chinese underground fifth column pressure. Members of the Siamese Government and Opposition parties have privately commented this week that an arrangement of the "best possible deal under the circumstances" with Communist China could not be ruled out as a prospect which could ' materialise under the pressure of the next three months. Several leaders have expressed open cynicism and distrust at the prospect of the United Kingdom and United States providing military aid sufficient to bolster Siam's ill-equipped and unmechanised border protection forces. —ra • i