741.92/12–145: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
10447. 1. Brit Embassy informed Dept orally Nov 3033 that Brit could not assent US request for combining Clauses C 1 and C 2 Brit-Siamese Agreement. Denied any special Brit end sought by separate statement Clause 1 and reiterated that only intent is to make easier negotiation with Siam regional scheme of defense “within international organization”.
2. Dept attaches deep importance to textual linking of Clause 1 and Clause 2. Such change would express exactly stated Brit intentions. Clause C 1 standing alone might be construed as giving Brit protectorate over Siam or right to military concessions outside international organization denying Security Council jurisdiction. See sections 1 and 2 of Dept aide-mémoire Jun 25 to which no Brit reply received. See also Deptel 9791, Nov 21, 1944.34
3. Instructions on which Brit oral statement Nov 30 based were obviously despatched before receipt by FonOff of Dept aide-mémoire and written oral communication Nov. 29 (Deptel 10408, Nov. 3035). Please stress to FonOff importance US attaches this matter and urge reconsideration when replying Dept’s Nov 29 communications.
Sent to London. Repeated to AmPolAd, Bangkok and Chungking for information.
- Written confirmation dated December 4 was handed by Mr. Everson to the Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs on December 5 (741.92/12–445).↩
- Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, p. 1285.↩
- Telegram not printed; it summarized the Department’s aide-mémoire of November 29, p. 1377.↩