751G.92/92a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Thailand (Grant)
Washington, November 16, 1940—3
p.m.
80. Your 157, November 9, 5 p.m. and 162, November 13, 5 p.m.50
- 1.
- The Department of course exchanges informally from time to time with officers of the British Embassy here information and comments with regard to the situation in Thailand, and in so doing has in mind the contents of your various telegrams.
- 2.
- The situation in Thailand has received and continues to receive the Department’s careful attention. In the light of your telegrams [Page 214] under reference we have reviewed that situation, and in the belief that our conclusions may be of assistance they are set forth as follows:
- 3.
- It is believed that this country’s adherence to the principles which were set forth in the Department’s 37, August 21, 6 p.m. and 46, September 11, 5 p.m. is well understood and that consequently no further initiative on our part in re-declaring them to the Thai Government is advisable at this time. We naturally wish to make no retraction of principles. It is believed, furthermore, that in the existing situation in Thailand any effort to indicate detailed applications of those principles would serve no useful purpose and might cause only annoyance and irritation. Any deterrent effect which the attitude of the United States may have had upon Thailand would appear to be more likely to be enduring if we now avoid reiterated expressions of view which might serve only to keep open a wound to the national pride. We feel that, having already made to the Thai Government a full exposition of principles, we should for the time being now rest our case.
Welles
- Neither printed.↩