Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East, Volume VIII

851G.014/1–246

The Department of State to the French Embassy

Memorandum

In acknowledging receipt of the memorandum dated January 2, 1946, which the French Ambassador¹⁰ handed to Mr. Vincent,¹¹ the Department of State desires to inform the French Embassy that just prior to receiving the memorandum an officer of the Department had again informed the Siamese Chargé d’Affaires¹² that this Government does not recognize the validity of the transfer of the Indochinese territories acquired by Siam on May 9, 1941 and considers that those territories should be restored by Siam. It was explained, as stated in the Department’s note of October 1 to the French Embassy, that the foregoing view is not be considered as supporting or opposing the merits of the pre-1941 Indochinese-Siamese border and that the position of this Government is without prejudice to any border readjustments or transfer of territory which may be effected by orderly, peaceful processes subsequent to the restoration of those territories.

At the same time, instructions were sent to the American political adviser at Bangkok again to inform the Siamese Government of the foregoing views.

Washington, January 4, 1946.

10. Henri Bonnet
11. John Carter Vincent, Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs.
12. Dithakar Bhakdi.