According to the regulations put out by the group, there was no prohibition against anyone joining the Nationalist Association although the proposed membership fee of 36 baht, and the requirement that new members must be nominated by existing members Particular ensured that it would be a highly élitist organization. emphasis was to be given to education, and it was envisaged that members of the organization would attend classes devoted to the study government administration and free market" economic ideas. Various materials for these courses were developed, public lectures and debates were planned, and a tentative timetable for these activities was announced.
As these efforts were being made, members of the Nationalist Association were making representations to the government in order to gain official recognition. However, the king decided that it was not advisable to permit political organizations to operate, and had Phraya Manopakon turn down the application Wichit was apparently angered by this decision, and for the remainder of the Manopakon government's term in office appears to have remained rather subdued, doing little more than writing articles for Duang prathip, on such subjects as early Thai history, the Japanese warrior code (Bushido), and jealousy