811.20 (D) Regulations/2469: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Thailand (Grant)
62. Your 282, May 24, 9 p.m., final paragraph. The British Embassy informs the Department from time to time of developments in the discussions now going on between the British and the Thai authorities concerning arrangements whereby there may be British cooperation with Thai efforts to obtain normal supplies of petroleum products. The American Government is not participating in these discussions. For your confidential information, the Department understands that the Shell and the Standard Vacuum Oil Companies are for their part prepared to begin discussions with the Thai Government, having in view an arrangement under which the companies, if their former distribution privileges were restored, would supply the normal requirements of Thailand from the Netherlands East Indies through their own distributing agencies. The American Government has raised no objection to negotiations for such an arrangement, but is as yet uninformed as to the definite attitude of the British and Netherlands Governments.
With regard to restrictions which affect the export to Thailand of other products, there have been no new developments. Upon the receipt of applications for export licenses the Department continues to give sympathetic consideration to the satisfying of normal Thai needs. (See Department’s 53, May 3, 8 p.m.19)
- Not printed.↩