892.014/5–346: Telegram
The Chargé in Siam (Yost) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—4:44 p.m.]
470. At direction Foreign Minister, FonOff representative on Saigon Mission called at Legation today to describe outcome negotiations. Meeting with Clarac took place in most cordial atmosphere. Siamese: (1) declared willingness to retrocede disputed territories, (2) asked for concessions by French to save Siamese face, (3) presented first of two alternative proposals outlined my 373, April 10, and (4) suggested possibility of plebiscite or submission question to UNO.
Siamese views submitted Paris which after one week replied that: (1) Siam must sign agreement terminating state of war with France along lines British agreement, (2) France prepared, after return of territories, to make “un adjustement de détail des frontiers” intended to facilitate river navigation, local communications and “les groupements locaux de population” (this is understood by Siamese to mean only minor frontier rectifications, including Thalweg of Mekong), (3) France could add no further “acts of clemency” to that set forth under (2) above and to renunciation of Emerald Buddha, (4) there could be no question of alienation of Cambodian territory for which France is responsible to Cambodian people, and (5) questions at issue should be settled between France and Siam and there should be no reference to UNO and no plebiscite.
In view French attitude Siamese felt it useless to present second alternative proposal outlined my 373. They urged that Clarac come to Bangkok to get firsthand view of Siamese opinion and to continue negotiations there. He has not yet replied to this invitation and Siamese Govt has not yet decided what attitude to take concerning French stand. We have advised that negotiations be pressed forward rapidly both because of increasing likelihood of frontier incidents (Clarac protested against Siamese troops fighting in Lao ranks against French) and in interest of Siamese entry into UNO at next assembly session.
[Page 991]Foreign Minister has asked us whether Dept has any further views it wishes to submit. We recommend, as suggested concluding paragraph my 373, that US make its position perfectly clear to Siamese at this time. If US does not consider submission of case to UNO desirable and is not prepared to support its full consideration by appropriate bodies we recommend Siamese be promptly advised to make best possible arrangement directly with French.
Text proposed French agreement being transmitted by pouch.38
- Despatch 109, May 3, not printed; the despatch noted that this draft agreement had been presented by the French authorities to the Siamese Mission during its recent visit to Saigon (892.014/5–346).↩