792.94/122: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 22—12:30 p.m.]
316. Following the ratification Thursday by the National Assembly of the Franco-Thai convention54 I called on Prince Varn-vaidya, Chairman of the Thai Delegation at Tokyo. During an hour’s conversation the Prince commented as follows on the Japanese-Thai relations and the international situation:
In many conversations with Matsuoka in Tokyo during the “mediation” conference, the Prince received the distinct impression that the Japanese Minister is sincere, not a “fire brand”, and desirous of coming to an understanding with the United States where he was educated. He and his colleagues are more friendly towards the United States than towards Great Britain of whom they seem to be very suspicious. However, Japan will remain true to her obligations to the Axis and if the United States goes to war with Germany Japan will likely enter the war also. Matsuoka returned from Europe convinced that the Axis would win the war but is desirous of avoiding war in the Pacific which would involve Japan. It seemed to Prince [Page 184] Varnvaidya that the Japanese have made a partial retreat from their original program of attempting to dominate east [Asia?] portion.
They are less belligerent and speak in milder tones of their planes [plans]. Matsuoka informed Prince Varnvaidya that Japan only wanted to work out a co-prosperity program with Thailand and other countries of East Asia since it was felt that the competition of the Western nations had not been quite fair. However, Matsuoka said Japan had no desire to eliminate the white race from East Asia. Prince Varnvaidya said that he had agreed to go along with Matsuoka on a “mutual prosperity” program between Japan and Thailand, meaning that commercial and cultural advantages would be exchanged. The Prince said he favored Thailand working out this program with Japan as circumstances and problems arise and therefore he did not advocate long term binding commercial agreements. In this connection he intimated he would oppose the proposal of the British Minister that Thailand give to Great Britain a [pledge?] similar to that given to Japan at Tokyo to the effect that Thailand would not enter into any agreement with a third power which would be directed at Japan politically, economically or militarily. He added that he was forced to give this pledge since the French had agreed to give such a pledge in return for a guarantee by Japan of the terms of the Franco-Thai convention. In this connection the Prince said he could not understand the politics of Vichy. He said the Thai pledge to Japan was a “political gesture” and would not in his judgment impair Thai foreign relations with other countries. He denied categorically that Thailand had made any commitments to Japan [with?] the pledge. He said Japan had made no other demands. In response to a question regarding the probable future of Indochina, Prince Varnvaidya said, “Japan is there and France has recognized it and therefore Japan is getting a firm grip on the situation, of course”. [The Prince was?] satisfied with the terms of the Franco-Thai convention and believed that this was the end of the dispute as far as Thailand is concerned.
Sent to Cavite for repetition to the Department, to Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo all sections.
- Peace convention between France, for French Indochina, and Thailand, with protocol signed at Tokyo, May 9; British and Foreign State Papers, vol. cxliv, p. 805.↩