892.24/41½
The British Embassy to the Department of State 12
[Extract]
[Washington,] February 19, 1941.
His Majesty’s Government are concerned with the possibility that large stocks of oil, particularly of 86 octane gasoline, may be accumulated in Thailand. These may be used by the Japanese against the Burma Road or might well form a reserve available for Japan in aggression against Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies.
- 2.
- The accompanying statement13 shows the best estimates available to His Majesty’s Government for stocks of oil in Thailand on December 1st, 1940. To these have been added known recent shipments from the United States, at present the only source of supply of oil products to Thailand. Except in the case of aviation spirit, stocks of which, in terms of months’ supplies, are proportionately much higher than those of other products, there does not seem to be great cause for alarm at present, but it is significant to note that a recent shipment of motor gasoline was consigned to Mitsui in Thailand and, moreover, the country’s requirements being small, further shipments, not perhaps large in themselves, would serve to build stocks conveniently accessible to the Japanese. It should be mentioned that figures recently given by the Thai Ministry of Defense for the requirements of the country for six months appear to be far in excess of normal. A statement of these figures is attached.13
- 3.
- His Majesty’s Government do not wish to propose an embargo on oil for Thailand, but they would like to see supplies restricted to regular and well defined limits, and they invite the United States Government to give the matter their urgent consideration.
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