740.0011 P.W./918
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Thai Minister called again at his request. He said that he was shocked to learn of the surrender of his country to the Japanese; that he and all of his associates at the Legation proceeded to hold a meeting and decided to offer their services to this country to aid in the general [Page 378] cause in any way possible. He said also that he desired to turn over to this Government all the money and effects he had which this Government might use in the prosecution of the war; that he thought they might organize and preserve a government of true patriotic liberty loving Thais while his government is in the clutches of Japan. He added that he believed that pro-Japanese influences inside his country were more or less responsible for the surrender.
I thanked him profusely and then added that this Government sometimes freezes any substantial amount of money that a conquered small nation may have in this country when it is captured by Hitler, but that, of course, the Government could not accept any money from him to be used in the prosecution of the war. I then said to him that we have continued to recognize the ministers and ambassadors of some other countries, which have been seized and swallowed up by Hitler, as still representing their respective countries. I mentioned the Czech Minister in that connection. This did not seem to interest him very much and he returned to his original ideas of voluntary service to this country on the part of himself and his associates. He said that he did not propose that anyone should call him and his associates “yellow”—that they did not feel that way. I commended all he has said in that respect and then suggested that he and his associates await full reports regarding the future situation and status of the Thai Government as it has been or will be agreed upon between the Japanese and the present officials of the Thai Government. He seemed to accept this idea and I said that I would be glad to report to him any further and final news on the subject.