711.92/31
The Thai Minister (Pramoj) to the Secretary of State 81
Memorandum
- 1.
- I have the painful duty to announce that the Thai Government has plainly revealed by its recent actions that it no longer represents the true will of the Thai people. From being a passive neutral, the Bangkok Government has rapidly degenerated into becoming an active partner of the Japanese. As the representative of my Sovereign and of the Thai people, who must in their hearts agree, I have no other choice but to denounce the recent decisions of the Bangkok Government and, in consequence, to disassociate myself entirely with the present body of men who claim to rule the country. With the assistance of all Thais loyal to their King and to their traditions, it is my intention to carry on the struggle for the restoration of Thailand’s liberty and independence.
- 2.
- I think it may be useful to recapitulate the events which have led me to take this decision. The news of the capitulation of the Bangkok Government was received on December 10th. I decided to adopt the attitude that I would henceforth only accept instructions from Bangkok so long as they appeared not to be dictated by the Japanese. This decision was made known to the Press on December 11th and cabled on the same day to Bangkok.
On December 12th news came that the Bangkok Government had concluded an offensive and defensive alliance with Japan. I immediately informed the Department of State that I repudiated this alliance which was obviously dictated by the military conquerors of Thailand.
I still held strong hopes that Thailand would at least maintain resistance against the Japanese. With the members of my Legation, I cherished the hope that, in spite of the rapid capitulation, the true spirit of Thailand would emerge after the first shock and that opposition against the invaders would be organised all over the country. Reliance on this faith in our people alone made it possible for us to carry on the work of the Legation during a period of extreme dejection and anxiety for our people at home. The atmosphere here truly reflected the feelings of the people in Bangkok as recounted by an American eye-witness in the following words:
“The Thailanders, shocked by news of the surrender, wept as they stood dazed in the streets.”
(Washington Times Herald, December 18th)
[Page 390]We could not abandon the hope that our people would be too proud to collaborate with the Japanese.
On December 19th, however, we received news of significant changes in the Thai Cabinet and we began to lose confidence that the Cabinet would remain true to the Thai people.
Then, on December 21st, the radio announced, from Japanese sources, that the Bangkok Government had signed a treaty of political and economic collaboration with Japan. We could no longer avoid the painful conviction that the Thai Government had become an active partner of Japan and we knew that we were now bound, however reluctantly, to disavow further connections with what can now only be termed a puppet government.
The following telegram was nevertheless addressed to the Bangkok Government, through our Legation in Lisbon:
“It is reported here Thailand entered economic and political collaboration with Japan. Please inform if true. No reply before December 25th will be taken as confirmation.”
We have no illusions as to the text of the reply which we may expect from Bangkok.
- Handed on December 24 to the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Smyth) by the Thai Minister.↩