892.01/32

The Secretary of State to the Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Services (Goodfellow)

My Dear Colonel Goodfellow: In reply to your oral inquiry of August 4 relating to possible American operations conducted in connection with a Free Thai movement, the position of the Department of State is as follows:

The United States recognizes Thailand as an independent state which is now under the military occupation of Japan. This Government does not recognize the Thai Government as it is now constituted; but this Government has refrained from declaring war on Thailand, has continued to recognize as “Minister of Thailand” the Thai Minister in Washington1 who has denounced his Government’s cooperation with Japan, and has sympathetically regarded a Free Thai movement in which he is prominent.

The Government of the United States looks forward to the re-establishment of Thailand’s independence as quickly as possible. Available information indicates that there remain in the present Thai Government a number of officials who opposed the capitulation of that Government to Japanese pressure. It is understood that Luang Pradist Manudharm (known also as Nai Pridi Bhanomyong), a member of the Council of Regents, is one of these officials and that he has participated prominently in a secret movement which aims to restore the Government as it was constituted prior to the Japanese invasion.

In the light of this understanding Luang Pradist Manudharm is presumed by the Government of the United States to represent a continuity in the Government of Thailand as it was constituted prior to the defection of the Thai Prime Minister1a to the Japanese at the time of the Japanese invasion and to be one of the outstanding leaders in the movement for Thai independence. Accordingly, until this Government has indications to the contrary from the Thai people, it feels warranted, without in any way committing itself in respect [Page 1119] to the future, in regarding Luang Pradist as one of the leading representatives in Thailand of the Thai nation.

The attitude of this Government, as above outlined, is a provisional position pending a free expression of the wishes of the Thai people following the liberation of Thailand by United Nations forces. The efforts of the Government of the United States are and should be limited to assisting the Thai people to restore a native regime capable of discharging its responsibilities and free from foreign control. The final choice of the leaders of such a government is a matter for the Thai people alone to decide.

It is believed that this will give you the information you wished.

Sincerely yours,

Cordell Hull
  1. Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj.
  2. Field Marshal Luang Pibul Songgram.