890.20/8–1749
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs (Reed)
| Participants: | H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithayakon, Thai Ambassador |
| Mr. Charles S. Reed II, Chief, SEA | |
| Mr. Kenneth P. Landon, Asst. Chief, SEA |
In the course of a conversation the Thai Ambassador referred to a proposal made by the Philippine Government that Thailand participate in a conference looking toward the possible formation of a Pacific Union including other like-minded nations which might desire to cooperate in opposing communism. The Ambassador said that his Government had accepted the invitation to participate in the conference and that he had been instructed to inquire what the Department’s views were on the question of a Pacific Union.
[Page 1189]I said that I regretted I could give him no authoritative comment at this time as the many factors involved were still under consideration. However, I could recall to his attention the Secretary’s press statement of May 18 regarding a possible Pacific Pact, which had been reiterated on several subsequent occasions, and to the final sentence of the joint communiqué issued by the President and President Quirino.
I added that speaking personally I believed that a voluntary union of the non-communist states of the Pacific area, for the purposes recently publicized by General Romulo—economic and cultural cooperation—could not but be mutually beneficial to all the participants. Such a union by the development of common interests in cultural, economic and social matters could become a potent force in the building up of a strong Far Eastern community.
I said that I hoped to be able to give him further information in this respect in the not too distant future.