792.9411/9
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 28, 1941.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of the text of the Treaty Between Japan and Thailand Concerning the Continuance of Friendly Relations and the Mutual Respect of Each Other’s Territorial Integrity,16 as appearing in the Official Gazette of December 28, 1940. The treaty was signed at Tokyo on June 12, 1940, and ratified by the Emperor on December 27, 1940.
A statement by the Information Board quoted in the Tokyo Nichi Nichi on December 25, 1940, declared: “The Treaty is one that makes a valuable contribution toward the political progress of East Asia now that Japan is devoting all her efforts to the establishment of a sphere of common prosperity in Greater East Asia. In view of the fact that the Treaty is not in its spirit and letter such a passive one as the so-called non-aggression treaty, but a progressive one, it is clear that both Japan and Thailand intend to make this treaty a basis of their friendly relations.”
Although the language of this statement is somewhat obscure, it plainly expresses the view that the treaty is calculated to assist Japan in its task of establishing the New Order in East Asia, and the view that the new treaty goes beyond the scope of the conventional non-aggression pact.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩