751G.92/5–846: Telegram
The Chargé in Siam (Yost) to the Secretary of State
immediate
[Received May 9—9:09 p.m.]
488. Re my telegram 487, May 7.39 Recent developments in Indochina border question have two following aspects:
- (1)
- With French troops fighting along Siamese frontier armed clashes involving Siamese likely to occur with increasing frequency. [Page 992] Situation aggravated by flight large number Indochinese, including Laos Government, into Siam. Siamese feel they cannot refuse refuge to “blood brothers”. At same time Saint Mieux, French Liaison Officer Bangkok, recently informed British Minister41 French cannot await indefinitely while Siamese consolidate position in disputed territories, military operations will become impossible after heavy rains start in July and French may have to take action before that time. Minister strongly urged patience but there is always possibility French military may take advantage of some incident to launch armed attack.
- (2)
- French during Saigon negotiations rejected all proposals (re my telegram 470, May 3) which Siamese felt might save their face. It seems unlikely further bilateral negotiations would be productive. On other hand Prime Minister feels any Siamese Govt which makes apparently voluntary retrocession of territories without compensation is committing political suicide. Nationalist sentiment will rise to boiling point and military wing of coup d’état clique, whose support constitutes essential element in present Government’s Assembly majority may well swing back to opposition and place Khuang in power on platform of intransigeance vis-à-vis France. Foreign Minister therefore suggested last night to British Minister and myself that British and US Governments jointly repeat to Siamese Government their statement of policy on border question and ask that territories be returned without further delay, at same time adding whatever assurances they may feel able to give concerning international consideration of dispute after territories have been returned. This would enable Government to place matter before Assembly with statement Siam had no alternative but to yield to unanimous solicitation of friendly great powers, at same time offering assurance of prompt subsequent international consideration of problem.
British Minister and I feel that further delay in overall settlement is likely to lead to increasingly serious complications. We also consider justified internal political apprehensions of Prime Minister and believe that overturn of present Government at this time, beside further complicating solution of border question, would result in serious and perhaps fatal delay in implementation of rice program42 which is now being pushed with greatest vigor. We are therefore submitting following joint recommendations to you and to London:
- (1)
- That we be instructed to reiterate to Siamese Government Anglo-U.S. policy on border question and urge immediate retrocession of territories;
- (2)
- That we be instructed to inform Siamese that U.S. and British [Page 993] Governments will do all in their power to ensure that Siamese case has full and fair hearing by UNO after return of territories;
- (3)
- That French Government be informed of these steps, be urged to take all possible precautions to prevent frontier incidents and be asked to consent to hearing of case by UNO if Siamese so desire.
We realize this action will not enhance Anglo-American popularity in Siam but we believe it follows logically from policy our Governments have so far pursued and that it is essential with a view to preventing further deterioration in situation.
- Not printed; it reported information from the Siamese Foreign Minister that the French had fired twice on the Siamese town of Nakorn Phanom from the French side of the Mekong. Mr. Yost recommended that representations be made to the French to take prompt measures to prevent further incidents. (892.014/5–746)↩
- Geoffrey H. Thompson.↩
- For documentation on this subject, see pp. 944 ff., passim.↩