892.014/3–946: Telegram
The Chargé in Siam (Yost) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 11—11:20 p.m.]
202. ReDeptel 136, March 4.19 There has been no concrete action on Franco-Siamese question during last 2 months but negotiations are about to be resumed. Small Siamese and French delegations being sent to Singapore in near future. Siamese now apparently prepared to restore all disputed territories but before doing so wish to obtain French assurances that thereafter French will make generous gesture by retroceding some of territory to Siam. Area particularly desired is western portion of Cambodian territory around Battambang (Aphaiwong preserve).20 Appeal to UNO will be made only in case plea to French generosity fails.
Neither Bird nor we believe there is slightest chance of French ceding Cambodian territory. Officials in Indochina show no intention of yielding more than Mekong Thalweg.21 If French make no concession which Khuang can present to Assembly as quid pro quo, Singapore negotiation may prove sterile. On other hand it is likely that after French have consolidated position in northern Indochina they will mass troops on Siam border and demand immediate return of territories. Under these circumstances Siam would probably yield promptly and at same time submit case to UNO.
- Not printed; it requested the Legation to report on the status of French-Siamese negotiations (892.014/1–1146).↩
- The Siamese Prime Minister was born of a prominent family at Battambang.↩
- A thalweg is the middle or chief navigable channel of a waterway which constitutes a boundary line between states.↩