740.0011 Pacific War/671: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 3—4 p.m.]
547. 1. In a conversation I have had with the Minister for Foreign Affairs he referred to the seemingly mild attitude of the Japanese toward the Thai Government lately but said that the Thai Government thoroughly understood what Japan was plotting against this country and definitely would resist Japan. I said I would be glad to telegraph this to my Government. He referred appreciatively to the information received through the Minister in Washington that the United States would place Thailand in the same category as China in case of resistance to invasion.
2. The Prime Minister was very disappointed at the meagerness of the assistance promised by the British Government in reply to his inquiry made about October 15. It is my opinion that the Government, however, as a whole and the Thai people are confidentially expecting that if the nation resists Japanese invasion it will receive immediate [aid?] from Great Britain and the United States.
The Thais are well aware that these two nations are opposing Japanese aggression even at the risk of war and naturally infer that their own efforts will receive British and American support. See the Legation’s telegram 534, November 26, 11 p.m., paragraph no. 3, quoting two popular radio commentators as saying that Thailand will have friends to come to her assistance.
3. If Japan invades this country and no aid as described is provided there is bound to be popular resentment against our two nations and possibly our citizens. This will be fomented by the Japanese and some Thais. I earnestly suggest that the British and American Governments as soon as possible inform the Thai Government what immediate and long term assistance it can expect against invasion.
This will enable the government to plan for the future intelligently either for resistance to the last extremity in the hope of ultimate victory through supporting British and American action or for a truce while awaiting a later settlement. Preliminary advice will also do much to avert a revulsion of feeling if American and British aid is not speedily forthcoming. The Thai have confidence in Britain and the United States in spite of refusal to supply them with military equipment and I feel that it would be fair to inform them of our intentions with reference to their situation as soon as those intentions can be communicated.
My British colleague is telegraphing along the same general line.