512. Editorial Note
On February 26, the first national election since 1952 was held in Thailand. The ruling Seri Manangkhasila Party won a total of 82 of 160 contested seats in the closely-fought election. The most successful of the opposition parties was the Democratic Party, led by former Prime Minister Khuang Aphaiwong, which captured 28 seats. The four leftist parties—the Free Democratic Party, the Economist Party, the Independence Party, and the Hyde Park Movement Party—stressed anti-Western campaign themes and won a combined total of 23 seats.
The results of the election were greeted with charges of corruption and fraud by the opposition parties and newspapers in Thailand. A tense political atmosphere developed in Bangkok and the government declared a state of emergency on March 2. The state of emergency lasted until March 14, when the elected Parliament was convened. In despatch 736 from Bangkok, April 22, the Embassy characterized the period of political unrest following the election as “the most serious political crisis in Thailand since November 1951.” (Department of State, Central Files, 792.00/4–2257)