892.24/79: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:30 a.m.]
495. Legation’s 476, October 15, 7 p.m. The British Minister informed me on October 28 that the British Government is anxious that action be taken on the Thai Government’s urgent plea for munitions and military planes. The British are considering letting the Thais have 6 batteries of howitzers and 3 batteries of anti-aircraft guns. He asked whether I had learned the reaction of the American Government to the suggested sale of 24 planes. I replied that I had had no reply to my telegrams on this subject. I suggested that the sale of American planes to Thailand at this moment of strained relations with the United States and Japan might be seized upon as an excuse for additional setup pressure on Thailand and that it would be preferable for the British to supply the planes. He replied that to meet this point the planes could be sent from Singapore on arrangement with the United States for replacements or Vultees could be sent from India subject to the consent of the Chinese. He said the British Ambassador in Chungking was being consulted on this last proposal.
On October 22, the Minister for Foreign Affairs reiterated to me the conviction of his Government that the Japanese are preparing for an attack on Thailand in the near future and his belief that Japan will present severe economic and political demands on this country as a preliminary. He urged that the American Government consent to the sale of planes in order to strengthen the present inadequate means of self-defense.
I concur in the British view that if the Thai Government were to receive the desired 24 fighter planes its determination to resist all Japanese demands would be strengthened and therefore respectfully advise that they be supplied preferably from Singapore.
This measure in conjunction with the release of commodities will counteract to a considerable extent the effect of the Japanese military threat and Axis propaganda which depicts the United States as doomed to be on the losing side because of internal strife and widespread strikes. I see no lessening of the Thai spirit of resistance to Japan but it is desirable to bolster this determination with such encouragement as we conveniently can give.
[Page 331]I would appreciate information regarding the decision reached in Washington.