711.922/81

The Chargé in Siam ( Chapman ) to the Secretary of State

No. 432

Sir: I have the honor to refer to my telegram No. 14 of October 14, 1936,15 and to confirm to the Department that I have been confidentially advised of the intention of the Siamese Government to present the draft of a new proposed treaty between the United States and Siam some time within the next few weeks. It is understood that the treaty will include clauses relating to land ownership substantially as quoted in my air mail despatch No. 420 of August 29, 1936.16 I am informed further that the proposed treaty will incorporate much of the phraseology of model United States treaties of friendship, commerce, and consular rights, that the Siamese Government is particularly anxious to expedite the negotiation and conclusion of a favorable treaty with the United States, if possible, before initiating negotiations with, shall we say, less disinterested countries, and that the Foreign Office will desire to conduct the treaty negotiations at Bangkok.

It is obvious that the Siamese believe that they have a better chance of concluding a favorable treaty with the United States than with certain other countries, and that their hand will be much strengthened if, when negotiating with France, Great Britain and Japan, they can refer to the accepted provisions of a treaty already concluded with the United States.

I shall not fail to keep the Department fully and promptly informed of further developments on this subject.

Respectfully yours,

J. Holbrook Chapman
  1. Not printed.
  2. Missing from Department files.