747.92/4–1546: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Australia (Minter)
us urgent
59. 1. Address formal communication Ext Affairs that US deeply perturbed at principle involved in Art XI Aus-Siamese Agreement requiring Siam give advance notice any intention conclude commodity arrangement with other Govts, even though proposed Art probably of no great practical importance. Any provision which unilaterally conditions sovereign right of Siam to conclude arrangements with any other Govt would establish precedent contrary sound international relations. Before war Siam had completely thrown off unequal treaties. Other Govts generally eliminating unequal treaties [Page 965] and withdrawing from prewar imperialistic policies. If Aus now requires unequal treaty with Siam it might furnish dangerous precedent for new series unequal treaties. This Govt hopes, therefore, that Aus Govt may be willing to withdraw unilateral requirement in Art XI requiring Siam inform Aus of intention to enter into commodity arrangements with other Govts or at least to restate Art XI so that obligations thereunder be mutually assumed and Aus would agree to give similar notice to Siam of Aus intention to conclude commodity arrangements.
2. For your info and such use you deem advisable there is absolutely no truth (urtel 51, Apr 12) in reports US negotiating secret bilateral agreements with Siam or seeking economic hegemony.
3. Bangkok being instructed42 inform FonOff that although Dept has no practical objections to substitute Art it considers Art wrong in principle and considers Siamese should not accept either original Art (even if Aus accepts interpretation ancillary notes) or substitute Art unless Aus accepts principle of sovereign equality and therefore of reciprocal treatment and agrees to give similar notice to Siamese of Aus intention to conclude commodity agreements.
4. Sent Canberra. Repeated for info FonOffs Bangkok and London. French Embassy being informed.43