751.92/5–1146: Telegram
The Chargé in Siam (Yost) to the Secretary of State
immediate
[Received May 13—12:26 p.m.]
505. Reference my telegram 496, May 8. French did not carry out their threat again to bombard Nakorn Phanom. No further hostilities have occurred since those reported my telegram 487, May 7.55 Siamese, however, report increasing numbers French troops with artillery arriving at Tha Khek (across river from Nakorn Phanom) and Savannakhet and fear renewal of attack.
Radio from Thompson and British observer who flew yesterday to Nakorn Phanom reports they have conferred with French who state incident commenced May 5 when party 150 to 200 Annamites, accompanied by persons identified by locals as Siamese police, crossed from Siamese to French side of Mekong at Hin Bun, killed 20 French Lao soldiers and 1 civilian, burned government offices, seized 700,000 piastres, 60 firearms and 12 boats and recrossed river. On May 6 there was prolonged fire on Hin Bun from Siamese side in spite of French protests to Governor Nakorn Phanom. French claim their [Page 1000] firing on latter town was essential to show Indochinese French willing and able to protect them.
Siamese on other hand claim (1) Annamites who attacked French at Hin Bun did not come from Siamese side of river but did flee across river after attack and (2) there was no firing at any time from Siamese side of river.
Further details expected when Thompson returns later today. Important fact is that French have agreed to withhold further offensive action pending instructions from Saigon unless “further acts of aggression occur from Siamese territory”.
Siamese assure us they have instructed officials in area not to resist or reply to any French attack.
Meanwhile news has broken in Bangkok press and is receiving sensational treatment. British Minister and I expect to see Foreign Minister as soon as our observers return and urge that press be moderated.
We hope this incident, origins of which will probably never be completely clarified, may now be closed. It seems only too likely, however, that other similar incidents may occur at any time under present conditions.
We believe Siamese Government genuinely desirous of avoiding hostilities but is not above exaggerating and profiting by incidents which do occur to enlist support world opinion against “French aggression”. Siamese undoubtedly have given some clandestine assistance to Indo-Chinese fighting French.56 French, however, tend greatly to overestimate extent of this assistance and to use it as excuse for attacks on Siamese sovereignty.
This explosive situation emphasizes urgency of prompt overall Franco-Siamese settlement which we believe could best be initiated by Anglo-US action along lines suggested my telegram 488, May 8.
- See footnote 39, p. 991.↩
- In telegram 537, May 22, 11 a.m. the Chargé in Siam reported: “British Minister and I have urged Siamese to take all possible measures to disarm Indo-Chinese refugees and prevent their re-crossing river without French sanction. Fact is however that Siamese authorities in Northeast do not have sufficient police and military forces adequately to control large numbers of refugees scattered through inaccessible jungle areas. French control on their side of river is even more incomplete.” (751G.92/5–2246)↩