หน้า:พระปกเกล้าฯ กับ รธน ไทย (vol 2).pdf/11

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could succeed. The case has really occurred which shows that in the late King’s mind all the sons could succeed. In my case the son of the Prince of Petchabun was passed over by the expressed wishes of the late King. Now, many people find that the idea that all the sons could succeed was objectionable owing to the fact that some Princes have the most disreputable minor wives who are really not fitted to be the mothers of Kings. They also say that the Siamese follows the India custom and wants their Kings to be born of a Princess of the Royal family. Such Princes are known as “being born in a pure womb”. They are the Chow Fas.

The questions of principles involved, of which I would like to ask your opinions are:

1st Question

Should the King have the right to choose any Prince as his Heir? If the King has this right, ought not this right to be extended to a Council of High Princes and Ministers of State, in the case when the King dies without having chosen an Heir. At present the King alone has the right to nominate an Heir. It would be perhaps more logical to allow a Council of some sort to exercise that right when the King has not done so. This would be more consistent with the idea of an Elected King.

2nd Question

Should the principle of choices be admitted at all or ought the