The British account claims that the only reason this did not happen was because of the action of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Prince Devawongse, who in negotiating with the revolutionaries argued that since Siam's treaties with foreign powers were all in the name of the king, his sudden removal would result in the cancellation of existing agreements and might even prompt intervention by the West. This was apparently a very effective argument as the coup leaders, fearful and unsure of themselves at the time agreed to the continued existence of the monarchy.