892.014/12–2245
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
A member of the staff of the French Embassy in London called at the Foreign Office on the 11th December to say that he had heard that the Siamese Government would be willing to cede back to the French the territories in dispute between Siam and France if told to do so by the United Nations Organisation.
The French representative was informed that the view of the Siamese Government, as expressed to Mr. Dening at Kandy, was that any Siamese Government which agreed to restore those territories to the French except at the instance of the United Nations Organisation would lose support in Siam. The opinion of His Majesty’s Government was that advice from His Majesty’s Government and from the United States Government might move the Siamese from that attitude and that the possibility of such advice being given by His Majesty’s Government should not be ruled out.
On the 19th December the French Embassy in London was informed that it was hoped to conclude the exchange of letters with the Siamese by December 25th. The French Embassy was not given the impression that the documents attached to the letters or the formal agreement to [Page 1409] follow the exchange of letters would contain any reference to the disputed territories. The French representative requested, however, that His Majesty’s Government should record in a written communication to the Siamese, their non-recognition of the Siamese acquisition of those territories in 1941.
Mr. Dening has accordingly been instructed to exchange letters on the subject with the Siamese representative at the same time as he exchanges letters covering the terms of the agreements which are to terminate the state of war. Mr. Dening will state that His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom do not recognise the acquisition by Siam of the French territories, and the Siamese representative will reply taking note, on behalf of his Government, of the view of His Majesty’s Government.