792.94/135: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—5:48 a.m.]
371. My telegram No. 369, July 27, 6 [7] p.m. I was called to the Foreign Office today by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs who said he had informed the Prime Minister of our conversation yesterday as outlined in the above telegram and that the Prime Minister had approved the remarks of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs to the effect that a public announcement of the United States’ friendship and the desire to assist Thailand would be helpful at this time. The Prime Minister also sent a message to me for transmission to my Government to the effect that since there might be a misunderstanding regarding the simultaneous Japanese and Thai troop movements into Indochina he wished to make it clear that it was a “representation” and had not been planned by the Thai and that the transfer of the ceded territories was proceeding without friction between the French and Thai authorities. In this connection only yesterday the French Chargé d’Affaires showed me a note which he had just received from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs protesting against alleged obstructionist tactics by the French authorities in Battambang in handing over immovable property and documents and requiring the Thai delegates to spend the night outside of the ceded territory.
I remarked to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs that perhaps the Japanese had “timed” their military occupation to coincide with the Thai occupation of Indochina territory. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that possibly this was the case.
I said I had received a radio report this morning to the effect that Japan had demanded military bases in Thailand. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs replied that no such demands had been made “up to this time”. He indicated in response to my inquiry that the Thai anticipate that such demands may be made at a later date, “not [Page 237] just now”. He gave the impression that he and his colleagues are extremely apprehensive over the situation.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the Prime Minister would like to see me the latter part of the week. He also said I could inform my Government that the revised list of American imports which Thailand desires is being prepared and will be submitted to me soon. In the event the Department should decide to consider making a public announcement of support of the Thai Government as suggested, I respectfully but strongly recommend that a clear line of demarcation be made between what has already occurred in the matter of the territorial controversy between Thailand and Indochina and the present situation since this Government, which is now seeking our assistance, deliberately ignored our advice regarding the maintenance of the status quo and with Japanese collaboration was guilty of successful military aggression against Indochina.
The Thai are clever and as a rule they do not put all of their cards on the table. There is a possibility that we might be maneuvered into the position of approving the recent Thai territorial acquisitions in Indochina; the Japanese mediation of that incident and even new aggressions in the event the Thai cling to the idea of taking over Laos and the remainder of Cambodia. The Department will recall the Thai attempt to make it appear publicly that we had approved the cession of territory in Indochina through Japanese mediation by attributing to me a statement which I did not make to the effect that the United States had made a “special case” of the Thai-Indochina affair. I am of the opinion that the fact that the Thai were military aggressors in collaboration with Japan should not be lost sight of.
Repeated to Tokyo.