Meanwhile, little more need be said of the third period, which is
described in some detail in Siffin's work. A Forest Department was
created in 1896 and played an important part in strengthening the territorial
control of the central government, as did the Mines Department,
both of which were brought within the Ministry of Interior. The Irrigation
Department was set up in 1899. A national police service was created
in 1897 and also placed in the Ministry of Interior. Schools for
the training of technically qualified personnel to staff these new agencies
were established. Their graduates supplemented the supply of
men who were beginning to return in growing number from their studies
overseas. A cabinet or ministerial council was created and replaced the
archaic senabodi, although the old term continued to be used until 1932.
To describe in detail the many other changes which took place at this
time would be unnecessary for present purposes.
It is enough to point out the crucial role which the Ministry of
Interior played as the focal center and womb of the new governmental
structure. In April" 1892, immediately after his return from a tour of
Russia,India, and Egypt on behalf of his new Ministry of Education,
Prince Damrong was suddenly named head of the new Ministry of Interior. In answer to his protests, Chulalongkorn told him that he would
have to take on this assignment because of the danger from "foreign
countries who were trying to invade Siam." "If we were not careful,
and did not arrange the country's affairs very well," he continued.