741.92/12–3145: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Siam (Yost) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 1, 1946—3:54 a.m.]
118. Pursuant to Department’s instruction (Deptel No. 78, December 22), following press release being issued tomorrow71 following announcement of the United States in Siam.
“I am most happy to learn of the successful conclusion of the Anglo-Siamese negotiations by the signature in Singapore of an agreement terminating the state of war between the UK and Siam.72 The US is naturally most pleased to see normal friendly relations reestablished between two nations for both of which it cherishes such cordial feelings.
“My Government considered that the declaration of war against the US issued by the Pibul Regime in January 1942 was an act taken as a result of the occupation of Siam by Japanese military forces and did not represent the will of the Siamese people. We chose therefore not to recognize the declaration. Later events seemed to justify this decision as Siamese forces did not actively engage in combat against Allied forces and as there sprang up within Siam a resistance movement led by many of the highest government officials which informed the Allied military authorities of its readiness at any time to engage in open resistance to the Japanese.
“As we had not recognized Siamese declaration of war we did not participate in the negotiations at Kandy and Singapore which we [were] intended to terminate the state of war between Siam and Britain. This abstention by no means signified, however, that the US was not interested in this settlement which arose out of the victory over Japan in which we played a major part. On the contrary we engaged in prolonged and friendly conversations with the British Government concerning the proposed terms of the agreement and made known our views on a number of points which we considered [Page 1415] either of direct concern to US or of general concern to those nations interested in the stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia. The British Government found itself able to concur to [with] our views on a number of these points and the Anglo-US conversations on this big subject were therefore concluded a few days ago.
“While the agreement just signed at Singapore is an Anglo-Siamese agreement to which the US is not a party and the terms of which it has not therefore been called upon to approve, we wish to express our satisfaction that our two friends have been able to come to an understanding and our appreciation that they proved so willing to take American interests into account. We are confident that the terms of the agreement will be carried out by both nations in a spirit of wholehearted cooperation with view to making the greatest possible contribution to the security, stability and economic welfare of Southeast Asia. The US will continue to collaborate with Britain and Siam and with the appropriate bodies of the UNO toward the achievement of these same objectives.”
- The Bangkok Legation copy of this message reads in part as follows: “Following press release being issued tomorrow: ‘As representative of the United States in Siam I am most happy.…’” (711.9).↩
- Signed January 1, 1946. For texts of agreement and heads of agreement and related exchanges of notes, see British Cmd. 8140, pts. 1–5, pp. 2–13. For text of the Communiqué issued the same day by the Office of the Presidency of the Siamese Council of Ministers, see The Siam Directory, 1946, published by the Thai Co., Bangkok, pp. 15 ff. For exchange of notes of January 1, 1946, with a view to terminating the state of war between Siam and Australia, and the Siamese Communiqué of the same date, see ibid., pp. 18 ff. The peace agreement between Siam and Australia was signed at Bangkok on April 3, 1946, British and Foreign State Papers, vol. cxlvi, p. 553. No similar treaties appear to have been entered into with Siam by other Dominions in the British Commonwealth.↩