751G.92/29: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 21—12:50 p.m.]
86. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs informed me today that his Government received late last night the reply of Vichy to the Thai communication of September 13. The reply of Vichy, he said, rejected as “inadmissible” the Thai proposal for the return of two pieces of territory and as “out of the question” the Thai suggestion for the return of all former Thai territory in the event of the change of the status quo in Indochina. It was agreed to proceed with the boundary questions in the Mekong River and the French Minister to Thailand will head the French delegation and the Prime Minister the Thai.
The Deputy Minister said his Government would probably continue the general negotiations with Vichy through the French Minister in spite of Vichy’s rejection of the major Thai claims. The Cabinet will likely meet either this evening or tomorrow in order to adopt a definite policy. Meanwhile the Thai Assembly today in its final session before recessing for 1 month voted confidence in the Government’s ability to handle the situation as it relates to Indochina. This action gives the Prime Minister a free hand to proceed as he sees fit in the matter. The Deputy Minister expressed the opinion that the situation in Indochina is most critical as the result of continuation of negotiations between the Japanese and the French authorities at Hanoi. He said the Japanese had requested the Thai Consul at Saigon to take over Japanese interests in Indochina. The Thai Government is establishing a [Consulate?] at Hanoi, according to a [news item?] in the local press this afternoon.
The Deputy Minister reiterated the statement made by the Prime Minister in the conversation with me on September 17 to the effect that the Thai Government is greatly desirous of having the sympathy of my Government in connection with the Thai proposals. I replied that my Government is still strongly and sincerely of the opinion that the maintenance of the status quo in this area is of paramount importance and for the general welfare at this time.