751G.92/19: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 14—11:10 a.m.]
75. Referring to the Legation’s telegram No. 74, September 12, 3 p.m., to the Department’s telegram No. 46, September 11, 5 p.m. and to previous telegrams sent by the Legation and received from the Department. I have today had a conference lasting more than 1 hour with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who represents the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the subject of Indo-China. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs informed me confidentially that his Government had received 2 days ago from the Vichy Government a telegram in which it was suggested that the pact of non-aggression between France and Thailand, which was signed June 14 last, be put into force immediately without the usual formal exchange of the instruments of ratification. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs added that his Government had replied to the Vichy Government the same day, yesterday, Thursday, asking “not demanding” that the Vichy Government enter into agreement with the Thai Government to provide as follows:
- (1)
- Rectification of the boundary between Thailand and Indo-China in certain portions of the river Mekong to which reference was made in the Legation’s telegram 72, September 8, 10 p.m.76
- (2)
- “Correction of certain artificial frontiers between Thailand and Indo-China”, the territory in question, as orally described to me by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, being the two sections, formerly Thailand territory, incorporated in 1 and 2 of the above-mentioned telegram from the Legation.
- (3)
- Return to Thailand of all territory in Indo-China which was ceded to France by Thailand, “in the event of a change of sovereignty over Indo-China.”
According to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the territory sought now by Thailand, which is designated under (2) above, comprises roughly only about one-seventh of the Thailand territory in Indo-China which was ceded to France. He stated further that his Government does not contemplate the use of force in prosecuting its claim. He reiterated that his Government believes strongly that the Japanese are going to obtain control of his Government [Indo-China?] and therefore it wants a return of the former Thailand territory before this occurs; hence his Government is seeking to negotiate the matter in an amicable way with the Vichy Government. The Deputy Minister stated further that no replies to the inquiry of [Page 114] his Government concerning the attitude of certain Governments towards the Thai proposal had been received so far from either Germany of [or] Italy and he pointed out that although the British had advised this Government not to prosecute the claim they had indicated a friendly interest in the legality of the claim. This confirms the statement made to me by the British Minister to which reference is made in the fourth paragraph of the Legation’s telegram No. 51, August 15, 2 p.m.
Foregoing repeated to Saigon, Chungking, Tokyo.
Pursuing the line of argument against such action as that proposed by the Thai Government, which I used in my conversation with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on August 24, pursuant to the suggestion in the last paragraph of the Department’s telegram 37, August 21, 6 p.m., I pointed out to the Deputy Minister that my Government is strongly of the opinion that the status quo should be strictly maintained in this area of the world including Indochina, to the end that the present disturbed conditions of the world may not be further aggravated, and that my Government, therefore, is hopeful that the Government of Thai, a country at peace in a war-torn world, when firmly resolved to make its contribution in the matter by refraining from taking any action which might, without design, constitute an act of aggression or which might, either directly or indirectly, tend to encourage aggression by a third party. I also pointed out the possible hazards to Thailand in such an enterprise as that proposed by the Thai Government, since the country is now tranquil with much constructive work, which has already been initiated by the new regime in Thailand, to be accomplished within the present boundaries of Thailand. An extension of territory in such times as these and under the abnormal conditions existing in Indochina, I said, might easily bring a long train of troubles to the Thai Government and people. Furthermore, I stated, the exercise of restraint on the part of the Thai Government at this time would without a doubt excite the admiration and friendship of those countries which are seeking to curb the spread of the world conflagration. Thailand would, therefore, have a much better case involving the claim to territories to which she believes she is entitled when the great war is terminated and the time comes for a settlement which, I said, I visualize. I made it clear that the last point was strictly my own personal opinion.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs intervened at this point of the conversation to inquire if I thought my Government would be present at such a settlement, I replied that it is my personal opinion that it will be present.
[Page 115]In conclusion, the Deputy Minister, who manifested keen interest throughout the conversation, making notes as I made my statement, said he would transmit my message to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I am of the opinion that the Department would strengthen the effort to influence the Thai Government to exercise restraint if it would communicate immediately through the Legation a statement to be transmitted orally to the Thai Government to the effect that the American Government is not unmindful of the feelings of the Thai regarding the territories in Indochina which formerly were a part of Thailand but that it believes the Thai claims would be on more solid foundation for possible future settlement if no precipitate action is taken now or at any time during the present world crisis.
- Not printed.↩