711.922/58: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Siam (Baker)
8. Your despatch No. 181 of January 316 and previous in regard to treaty revision. On March 13 the Department, in reply to the Siamese Legation’s memorandum of February 25 indicating that the Siamese Government wished to proceed with the signing of a supplemental treaty revising Article 3 of the treaty of 1920 between the United States and Siam, informed the Siamese Minister orally and informally that, in view of the long period which had gone by since the Siamese Government proposed to the Department the revision of certain articles of the present treaty and in view of the fact that the time, namely 1936, when, so we understand, the Siamese Government expects to ask for comprehensive revision of a number of its treaties, had come appreciably nearer, the American Government was moved to suggest that there be left in abeyance for the time being the question of revision of Article 3 only of the treaty. In so stating, we expressed regret that our reply would probably be disappointing to the Siamese Government. We made no mention of the monopolies question.
The Department desires that, unless you perceive objection (in which event please telegraph briefly your reasons), you seek an early opportunity to call at the Foreign Office and orally and guardedly reaffirm our regret.
Mail instruction follows.6