751G.92/62: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 13—5 a.m.]
118. Supplementing the Legation’s telegram 115, October 11, 9 p.m., I have it from most reliable sources that Germany and Japan have both made overtures to Thailand apparently by agreement promising Thailand not only the frontier territory west of the river Mekong which has been requested of Vichy but the territories of Laos and parts of Cambodia whenever the Thai troops begin to move into Indochina. Germany, it is understood, will handle Vichy for Thailand. The design is to draw [Thailand] into the new Japanese-Axis orbit against Great Britain and the United States.
The British Minister has informed me that in view of this development he plans to send a message to the Prime Minister Monday to the effect that, if such a plan is accepted by Thailand, his Government will be compelled to revise its attitude in regard to an agreement between Thailand and Japan, which was outlined in the Legation’s telegram 113, October 11, 8 a.m.
Sent to Tokyo.