Editing Vajiravudh (section)

==Financial crisis==
In 1917, the price of silver rose and exceeded the face value of silver coins. The coins were then melted down and sold. The government solved this by changing the pure silver coin to alloy. Vajiravudh eventually forbade exports of Siamese coins. In 1918, the usage of 1-baht coins was nullified and 1-baht banknotes were introduced. Coins were recalled and kept as a national reserve. In 1919, Vajuravudh imposed a military-exemptation tax ({{langx|th|เงินรัชชูปการ}}) nationwide including on the royal members. As the need for huge capital increased, a new bank, later known as the "[[Government Savings Bank (Thailand)|Government Savings Bank]]", was founded in 1923.

Though the Siamese forces that joined the march at [[Treaty of Versailles|Versailles]] returned triumphant in 1919, the worldwide economic problems caused by World War I were serious. In the same year, drought hit Siam and rice shortages ensued. The government forbade the export of rice, the main Siamese export since the [[Bowring Treaty]]. Queen Mother [[Saovabha]], Vajiravudh's mother, died in 1919. Siamese participation in World War I opened the way to reconciliation, first with the [[United States]] in 1920, then to redress the unequal treaties imposed by Western powers in the 19th century.

In spite of the financial crisis, railway constructions continued. The railway reached [[Narathiwat]] and was expanded north and east. The construction of the [[Rama VI Bridge]] carrying the railway over the [[Chao Phraya River]] in Bangkok began in 1922 and the same year the railway reached [[Chiang Mai]]. However, the treasury was in such straits that a large loan from Britain was negotiated. Also in 1922, an insurgency occurred in [[Pattani Province|Pattani]] over new taxation policies. It was readily suppressed by the Nakorn Sri Thammarat Regiment. In 1923, Vajiravudh announced his six principles in the governance of Pattani Province, emphasizing local freedom and tax measures.