Pote Sarasin

Pote Sarasin ( Thai: นาย พจน์ สารสิน, pronunciation: [ na ː p ʰ j ót sa ː rásǐn ]; born March 25, 1905 in Bangkok, † September 28, 2000 ) was a Thai diplomat and politician. He was from September to December 1957 Prime Minister of Thailand from 1957 to 1963 and the first Secretary General of SEATO.

Biography

Pote Sarasin comes from an old family of merchants and landowners. His father was the doctor and rice traders Phraya Sarasin Swamipakdi ( Tian Hi), his mother, Khunying Suhn Sarasin. Pote received his education at the Wilbraham Academy in Massachusetts. After he returned to Thailand, he studied the legal system of the country and was admitted to the Thai Bar Association in 1929. He married Siri Sarasin, which was later awarded the title of Khunying. He then continued his studies at the Law School of the English Bar Middle Temple and was admitted as a barrister. Upon his return to Thailand he practiced from 1933 to 1945 as an attorney in Bangkok.

His political career began in 1947 as a senator, who was appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister in 1948. In 1949 he finally took over the Foreign Ministry. Unlike the Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram Pote refused to recognize the US-backed regime of Bảo Dai in Vietnam and had a short time to withdraw it. Between 1952 and 1957 Pote Ambassador of Thailand to the United States and permanent representative of the country at the United Nations was (UN).

In July 1957 he was elected the first Secretary General of the newly formed SEATO.

On September 21, 1957 Pote was appointed Prime Minister of Thailand after the coup was carried out by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat. Its main task was the preparation of the coming general election.

After the elections had been held, he stepped back and remained until December 13, 1963 Secretary General of SEATO.

On December 9, 1963 Prime Minister him Thanom Kittikachorn appointed Minister for National Development. Following a cabinet reshuffle in 1969 he was Minister of Economic Affairs recently as successor of Sunthorn Hongladarom of 10 February 1968 to 7 March.

In the subsequent Cabinet of Prime Minister Thanom he was then on 7 March 1969 to November 17, 1971, in turn, Minister for National Development. After the subsequent coup by Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn and decreed by this suspension of the constitution was Pote Sarasin 1971-1972 Director of Economy, Finance and Industry in the National Executive Council.

Pote Sarasin died on 28 September 2000 at the age of 95 years in Bangkok.