In radio’s war of nations one of the neatest recent successes was scored by Britain’s All-India Radio in Delhi, in its hammer-&-tongs propaganda war with Siam. Credit goes chiefly to a group of young Siamese scripters, attached to the British Ministry of Information in Delhi. They really know where Siam’s political nerves lie, have seldom missed a chance to needle Siam’s little puppet dictator Luang Pitul Songgram.
Recently Dictator Pitul ordered that all Siam must rise at 8 a.m., stand at attention while radios blared the national anthem. To rouse lie-abeds, factory whistles blew, army & navy guns roared, temple bells clanged.
In high spirits Delhi Siamese broadcasters beamed this question to their countrymen: What would happen if you happened to be in the privy when Pitul’s morning broadcast began? Several days later Radio Bangkok solemnly took up the challenge. In a nationwide broadcast, Siamese were told that in such an emergency they might simply sit up straight.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington
- Introducing the 2025 Closers
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- Why, Exactly, Is Alcohol So Bad for You?
- The Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise Harder
- 11 New Books to Read in February
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Column: Trump’s Trans Military Ban Betrays Our Troops
Contact us at letters@time.com