892.014/1–846: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
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[Received January 8—1:40 p.m.]
118. In conversation with Baudet, Chief of Far Eastern Division at FonOff, he stated he is under pressure from press re effect of British [Page 982] and American renewal of relations with Siam on French claims to territories ceded by Indochina in 1941. FonOff would like to give press substance of Dept’s instructions to Yost on this matter13 (which they have received from their Embassy at Washington) as well as text of letter attached to British-Siamese treaty. Baudet indicated publication of latter was being delayed at request of British until it could be announced in House of Commons.
In this connection Paris press this morning carried brief announcement that French Govt has received assurances from Great Britain and US of support for French territorial claims on Siam.
Re Dept’s suggestion that negotiations between France and Siam re frontier matters be held after Siam had recognized French sovereignity over disputed territory, Baudet stated French Govt would only be willing to discuss question of Islands in Mekong and would not be willing to discuss any revision of land frontier.
- In telegram 118, January 9, 4 p.m., the Department informed Paris that it would have no objection if the French Foreign Office issued a statement giving the American position in full (892.014/1–846). The telegram then set forth the American position, along the lines of the memorandum of January 4 to the French Embassy, supra.↩