Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East, Volume VIII

501.AA/5–2846

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division, of Southeast Asian Affairs (Landon)

[Washington,] May 28, 1946.

Participants:	Mr. Luang Dithakar Bhakdi, Siamese Legation
	Mr. Konthi Suphamonkhon
	Mr. Abbot Low Moffat, SEA
	Mr. Kenneth P. Landon, SEA
	Mr. Stanton, [Appointed] American Minister to Siam

In the course of conversation Mr. Konthi said that one of the most important instructions that he had from his Government was to get Siam included among the United Nations. He reminded us that on a previous mission, shortly before the end of the war,⁶⁹ he had had similar instructions but that he had been unsuccessful chiefly because Siam was occupied by the Japanese.

Mr. Konthi went on to say that he had a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Secretary General of the United Nations⁷⁰ inquiring as to the procedure of applying for membership in the United Nations. He asked us what the procedure was and if we would support Siam’s application for membership.

Mr. Konthi was informed that the method of applying for membership was quite simple in that all that was required was a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Secretary General applying for membership and agreeing to abide by all of the rules and the charter that were binding on members of the United Nations. He was also informed that the United States stood ready to vote affirmatively on the Siamese application for membership, that Siam might expect some difficulty from France in this connection inasmuch as France still considered itself in a state of war with Siam and that, therefore, it might be wise to give some thought as to the best time to apply.

Mr. Konthi said that Siam has never been informed by France that France would oppose Siamese membership in the United Nations, unless Siam first retroceded the disputed areas and that he did not believe that France would oppose Siam’s membership.

69. See Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. vi, pp. 1252–1264, passim.
70. The letter, dated May 20, 1946, expressed the earnest desire of Siam to join the United Nations, requested the extension to Konthi Suphamongkhon of the Secretary General’s good offices and advice in the matter, and asserted that Siam was ready to assume full responsibility in carrying out the obligations of the United Nations Charter; for text, see United Nations. Official Records of the Security Council, First Year, Second Series, Supplement No. 4, p. 43.