741.92/9–2645: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 26—6:15 p.m.]
9988. We have just seen Sterndale Bennett regarding Depts 8416, September 25, and he tells us British Embassy Washington has been instructed to make clear to Dept that Dening was not told to give Siamese only 24 hours before having them sign agreement. Heads of Agreement and Military Annex are according to Sterndale Bennett basis upon which formal agreement will later be signed. Foreign Office is now studying latest memorandum from Dept and before final agreement is signed it may be possible to revise certain items to bring them more in line with United States ideas. Bennett said there was considerable misunderstanding over scope of Military Annex, that it might be signed as one agreement or be split up into series of agreements, but that there was no thought of implicating United States in any of its provisions. The Heads of Agreement on the other hand he said contain a purely British-Siamese agreement for winding up the state of war between the two nations. Bennett made it clear that on this the British were not “consulting” the United States as we were not at war with Siam but because of the strong British desire for Anglo-American understanding on Asiatic questions Foreign Office was informing us in advance of British terms and was pleased to receive any comments. He pointed out that British have made considerable modifications to meet United States viewpoint and might make more before final formal agreement is signed but that probably on some points “we would have to agree to disagree”.