792.94/135½
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State
The Japanese Ambassador called to see me this evening.
I stated to the Ambassador that the President desired me to inform the Japanese Government through him that reports had now been received by the Government of the United States which indicated that Japan was making the same kind of economic and military demands upon the Government of Thailand which it had recently made upon the French Government with regard to Indochina. The [Page 540] President desired me to say that, with regard to Thailand, in the judgment of the Government of the United States there was not the remotest threat of danger to Japan nor the slightest justification for Japan alleging that she desired to obtain such concessions from Thailand as a means of assuring a source of raw supplies or as a measure of military precaution. The President therefore desired the Japanese Government to know that the previous proposal which he had made to Japan with regard to Indochina be regarded as embracing Thailand as well, and that should the Government of Japan accede to the proposal of the President and abandon its present course with regard to Indochina, the President would request of the other powers which he had mentioned in connection with his proposal concerning Indochina the same guarantee and measure of security with regard to Thailand. The Ambassador stated that he would at once transmit this proposal to his Government.