Office of the Historian

406. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate in Hong Kong0

Washington, May 14, 1961, 12:07 a.m.

1361. For the Vice President from Alexis Johnson.1 Bangkok’s 2047 to the Department rptd Hong Kong 7152 for you greatly reinforces vital [Page 854] importance of your mission to Thailand. In reviewing talking paper prepared for your use in Thailand3 I believe that it would enable you substantially to strengthen your presentation to Sarit of point two “Stationing of SEATO or US Force in Thailand” if you would explicitly state that the President had authorized the making of that offer. (FYI in addition to discussions at which you were present I specifically checked this point with the President before it was incorporated in talking paper.)

Also FYI preliminary instructions have already been transmitted to Embassy Bangkok and work is proceeding here to permit prompt follow-up on point three “US Military Assistance”.

I am suggesting to Secretary Rusk that he transmit to you any additional suggestions for your Bangkok conversations in the light of the difficult situation he is facing in Geneva.

Regards,

Bowles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.1100–JO/5–1461. Secret; Priority; CODELJohnson. Drafted and approved by U. Alexis Johnson. Repeated priority to Geneva for the Secretary and to Bangkok for Johnson.↩
  2. Vice President Johnson toured Southeast Asia and South Asia May 9–24, stopping in Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, and Pakistan. He arrived in Bangkok on the evening of May 16 and left on the morning of May 18.↩
  3. In telegram 2047 from Bangkok, May 13, the Embassy reported that Thanat was empowered to attend the Geneva Conference on Laos but was having serious second thoughts about attending. Thanat believed the British and French were preparing to concede Laos to the Pathet Lao through the interim facesaving device of a government under Souvanna Phouma. Chargé Unger suggested that Vice President Johnson’s trip to Bangkok be used to reassure the Thais about U.S. intentions at the conference. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–1361)↩
  4. Documentation on the planning for the trip, including briefing papers, is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 65 D 336, CF 1875–1883. See also ibid., Central File 033.11–JO; Johnson Library, Vice Presidential Security File, VP Travel, Far East Trip, May 1961; and ibid., VP’s Visit to SE Asia I and II.↩