390.1115A/445: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Thailand (Grant)
45. Your 196, April 5th. It appears from your 110, February 28th, that Americans in Thailand have been duly advised, both directly and through the press, in the sense of the Department’s 29, February 20th. Department has likewise kept key missionary organizations in the United States informed of its suggestion and advice to Americans in Thailand, especially to those of the specified categories, that they consider the advisability of withdrawing to the United States while transportation facilities are available. This suggestion and advice having been offered, there should be no insistence upon departure of any citizen since the Government may not compel the return of its citizens and the decision whether to remain or to depart is one for each individual himself to make.
The Department of course desires that you continue to keep it informed of developments affecting the safety of Americans in Thailand so that it may be prepared to repeat its advice or to warn Americans to return immediately if developments should render this necessary. In this connection and with reference to the penultimate paragraph of your telegram, please cable brief statement of reasons on which your opinion that Americans in Thailand should be urged “to return home as quickly as possible” is based.