892.014/5–2946
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs (Moffat)
| Participants: | M. Francis Lacoste, French Embassy; |
| Mr. James C. H. Bonbright,71 WE; | |
| Mr. Abbot Low Moffat, SEA. |
M. Lacoste called at my request, and I informed him that we had just received word from Ambassador Caffery,72 in response to our request that he express to the Foreign Office our concern over the recent border incident, that he had seen Chauvel May 28 and that Chauvel had informed him that on the preceding day the Foreign Office had sent an urgent telegram to Admiral d’Argenlieu requesting a full report and stressing the necessity of his taking all steps possible to avoid such incidents.
We pointed out to M. Lacoste that the Siamese telegram to Mr. Lie73 had been circulated to the members of the Security Council, but we had been informed that Mr. Lie was not placing it on the agenda. However, any member might do so at any time. It was our view that it would be very helpful if the French Government could promptly issue a statement giving out the information which Chauvel had given our Ambassador and pointing out that this action had been taken even before word had been received of the Siamese message to the Secretary-General. The longer the delay in making clear the French desire to avoid border incidents the greater, we felt, the danger that public opinion would insist that United Nations take action and some country might bring the issue before the Council. Whereas, since the Siamese desire is to obviate such incidents, a prompt announcement along the lines indicated would disclose no dispute between the two countries calling for Security Council action. Furthermore, we pointed out, the longer France remains silent the more difficult it will be successfully to present to the public her point of view.
M. Lacoste asked if we really believed it would be wise for the French Government to issue such a statement before it had received the full facts regarding the incident. We replied that we did, and he stated that he would wire the suggestion to his Government immediately.