892.01/8–2045
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
The Department of State is giving careful study to the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of August 20, 1945 which was accompanied by a copy of two draft agreements, one of British political interest and one on military and quasi-military matters, which the British Government proposes should be presented to representatives of the Regent of Thailand at Kandy.
In a secret letter to the American Ambassador, London, dated September 4, 1944,20 Mr. Eden stated: “We, like the United States, want to see the restoration of Siam after the war as a free, sovereign and independent state, subject only to its acceptance of such special arrangements for security or economic collaboration as may be judged necessary within an international system.”
On November 22, 1944, in response to a note from the American Embassy requesting a clarification of the British Government’s views underlying these reservations, Mr. Eden replied:21 “The two conditions suggested in my letter of the 4th September, on which you asked further clarification, were in the nature of general reservations to be filled in in detail when the outline of the postwar settlement in the Far East is clearer. I should like to meet your Government’s wish for greater precision, but I do not really think that it is practicable to be more precise at this stage when there are so many unknown factors as regards the future. Nor could I in any case attempt a binding definition without prior consultation with experts in this country, with the Dominions, and with the Cabinet. But I shall be happy to review the matter with you from time to time as the situation develops.
“I cannot think that the general reservation which I made in paragraph 5 of my letter of the 4th September will be other than acceptable to the United States Government. It is, I suggest, a matter of [Page 1291] ordinary prudence, even in the case of those who are but the satellites of our main enemies, to stipulate that as a condition of their ultimate freedom, sovereignty and independence they should accept such special arrangements for security or economic collaboration as may be judged necessary to the functioning of the postwar international system.”
In its aide-mémoire to the British Embassy dated June 25, 1945, the Department referred to the foregoing statements by Mr. Eden and expressed its view that Thailand at an appropriate time should be admitted to the United Nations Organization on its pledge to cooperate fully as a sovereign power in all pertinent international arrangements, but that it would not be desirable to make acceptance of such arrangements a condition to the restoration of Thailand’s independence and sovereignty. It was further stated that this Government would welcome assurance by the British Government that its economic and commercial policies in regard to Thailand are in general harmony with the American principles which were set forth in the aide-mémoire and which are designed to assure Thailand’s economic independence while, at the same time, protecting the nationals of all the United Nations by assuring them fair and equal economic and commercial opportunity.
The Japanese surrender occurred before a reply to that aide-mémoire was received and this Government has not, therefore, had a further statement of British economic and commercial policies in regard to Thailand.
Under the circumstances this Government is not clear as to the precise intent of the language employed in paragraph numbered D 5 in the Annex to the Embassy’s aide-mémoire setting forth the text of the heads of the proposed political agreement which provides that the Thai Government should: “Undertake to participate in any international arrangements regarding tin and rubber.” It would be appreciated if the British Government would inform this Government of the intent of this paragraph.
Meanwhile, further study is being given to the proposed agreements, especially to the apparently far-reaching economic controls suggested. The Department will communicate to the British Embassy the views of this Government on the proposed agreements as soon as possible.
- See airgram A–1085, September 5, 1944, from London, Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, p. 1316.↩
- See airgram A–1404, November 24, 1944, from London, ibid., p. 1319.↩