890.00/9–845: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received September 8—1:25 p.m.]
9224. [Here follows substance of conversation on various Far Eastern questions with Sterndale Bennett on the morning of September 8.]
Thailand was discussed at some length and reference made to Mr. Winant’s meeting with Prime Minister the night of September 6 and orders which had gone to Mountbatten to sign only the first of the two military agreements referred to in that meeting. Sterndale Bennett says FonOff itself doesn’t like certain aspects of the second agreement proposed and that strict instructions have gone to Mountbatten to do nothing regarding it until further orders.
FonOff believes US-British position on Thailand is getting closer but on at least one point British feel they must remain firm. They are at war with Thailand and British troops there cannot be limited in numbers or functions to matters solely of concern to war against Japan.
The question of French Indo-China territories taken by Thailand was raised and Sterndale Bennett said British position was based, as he believed US position was, on the principle that territorial changes made under duress should not be recognized. British believe France has strong case for demanding return of its territory and any effort to differentiate between British territories taken by Thailand and French would make French “see red” and accomplish no good for anybody. Sterndale Bennett feels that status quo should be first returned to and then after brief period to let passions cool, a fresh start could be made. He implied that if in making an agreement with France to return to status quo Thai Govt should insert some phrase about not prejudicing subsequent negotiation of whole question, there would be no great objection. He feels strongly that if some such procedure is adopted there will be real possibility of mutually satisfactory solution to the matter but that otherwise there would be danger of trouble in South East Asia which would be harmful to all our interests.