File No. 763.72/4729
The French Ambassador ( Jusserand) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 17.]
Mr. Secretary of State: I took care to report to my Government the conversation I had on the 5th instant with the Counselor of the Department of State regarding the contingency of instructing the representative of the United States at Bangkok to urge, in conjunction with the Allied agents, the Siamese Government to break its diplomatic relations with Germany.
In his reply to my communication, the President of the Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs, while admitting, as had been remarked by Mr. Polk, that the material interests of the United States in Siam are comparatively unimportant, feels that the Government of the United States will surely realize the great interest involved in overlooking no opportunity to weaken our enemies, and the advantages that all the Allies would derive from a further diminution of the foothold of the Germans in the Far East.
These advantages would be of various kinds. To begin with, a breach between Siam and Germany would enable the first-named country to make a final end of the intrigues which the Germans from French and English possessions in Asia, who took refuge in Siam, have not ceased to foment, in concert with the German residents of the country, among the Hindoo and Annamite elements, in spite of the satisfactory measures taken by the Siamese Government.
Furthermore, as your excellency is aware, German commercial houses are powerful in Siam and companies of that nationality control three-fourths of the sea trade of Bangkok. Finally, a number of German cargo boats are tied up in that port and a rupture might enable the Allies to make direct or indirect use of them.
[Page 445]In requesting me to impress your excellency with these various arguments, the Government of the Republic wishes me to urge upon you the advisablity of having the Federal Government which, on account of the presence of an American advisor at Bangkok, enjoys great influence in Siam, join in the efforts of the Allies to endeavor to deal the economic position of Germany in the Far East another blow that can not but be deeply felt by her.
Be pleased to accept [etc.]