892.014/6–346
Memorandum by the Acting Assistant Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Wallner)
Subject: Note No. 358, June 3, 1946, from French Embassy concerning border incidents on the Mékong River and the disputed Cambodian and Laotian provinces
This note sets forth at some length the French case on the recent incidents on the Mekong River, which separates Siam from French Indochina. It then requests this Government to intervene “with all its authority” and to urge the Siamese Government
- 1)
- To take all measures to restore order on the frontier;
- 2)
- to return, without more ado, the disputed provinces to Laos and Cambodia.
Reply to this note was delayed pending agreement both within the Department and with the British, on measures to be taken in the light of the Siamese moves toward application for membership in UN and probable Siamese decision to submit the disputed provinces question to the Security Council. At one time a démarche by Mr. Caffery to M. Bidault was contemplated (Deptel 2749, June 8) but later abandoned because outstripped by events.
It was then decided in consultation with SEA to inform orally the French Embassy that we had complied with the requests contained in the French note as follows:
- 1)
- On June 7 the President cabled (Deptel 472 to Bangkok9a) the Siamese Prime Minister and urged (a) that all possible steps be taken to avoid further incidents on the Siam-Indochina border which might cause misunderstanding; (b) that the Prime Minister do all in his power to control any unruly elements on the Siamese side of the border which might endanger peaceful conditions.
- 2)
- On May 31 the American Chargé d’Affaires at Bangkok informed the Siamese Government (for the fifth or sixth time) of our view that Siam’s present occupation of the disputed provinces was illegal and that they should be returned to Indochina.10 This démarche was made before the receipt of the French note, and we did not consider it necessary to repeat it.
After reiterating the basic American position on the disputed provinces, I so informed both M. Wapler, Counselor, and M. Winckler, First Secretary.