501.AA/6–2846: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Acting United States Representative at the United Nations (Johnson)
114. Following is the information for use in discussing Siam with the French (reference paragraph 10 of long membership telegram of today’s date13).
The American position as set forth on various occasions to both the French and Siamese Governments is that we do not recognize the validity of the transfer of the Indo Chinese territories acquired by Siam on May 9, 1941. We feel, therefore, that the Siamese occupancy of the areas is invalid and that they should be retroceded. This, however, is not to be considered as passing upon the merits of the pre-1941 frontier, concerning which we have an open mind. We entertain the hope that a final settlement, mutually agreeable to France, Cambodia and Siam and which will remove once and for all the age-old causes of friction in that area will be arrived at through peaceful procedures. As the French Government has been informed, we have told the Siamese on several occasions that they should return the territories. [Page 1030] These admonitions have been without effect, and it now appears that the Siamese Government will not return them pending submission of the whole question to the Security Council. The Siamese also plan to submit an application for membership, concurrently we believe, with the submission of the whole question.
Had the membership application been submitted without any move on the part of the Siamese Government to retrocede the territories or seek a solution through U.N., this Government would have favored the postponement of consideration of the Siamese application for membership until such a move had been forthcoming. We should have preferred to make retrocession of the territories the condition of our support of Siamese membership. In view of the fact, however, that certain members of the Security Council are bound by treaty to vote for Siam’s membership14 and as Siam’s legislature has approved the submission of the whole problem to the United Nations, agreeing in advance to accept its verdict, we are of the opinion that an affirmative vote on our part is justified. While this Government fully understands the reasons which at first sight might motivate the French to veto Siam’s membership application, we hope that upon further consideration of this matter, including the present political and economic situation in South East Asia, the French Government will find it possible to avoid the use of its veto power.
You should say in conclusion that the frequently reiterated position of the United States described above will be our position in the Security Council.
The objective on Siam in your talk with the French should be to attempt to dissuade them from exercising a veto should a Siamese application come before the Council under the circumstances outlined. You will note in our 105 of June 22 we spoke of Siam agreeing to accept in advance the obligations of pacific settlement of the Charter. We meant to include in that term agreeing in advance to accept and cany out decisions of the United Nations on this matter. If you think there is any question in Cadogan’s mind on that point we would suggest you clarify our position with him as indicated.
Repeated to Paris for information and appropriate action.15
- Telegram 115, June 28, 7 p.m., to New York; its paragraph 10 stated: “During discussion our position on Siam should be outlined. This obviously will present difficulties in French talk. A separate telegram [No. 114] contains our suggestions.” (501.AA/6–2846)↩
- In Article 22 of the Singapore Agreement, January 1, 1946, the United Kingdom undertook to support Siam’s candidacy for membership in the United Nations.↩
- In telegram 3216, July 2, 8 p.m., the Department notified the Ambassador in France that Mr. Johnson and the Department had informed the French delegation at the United Nations and the French Embassy, respectively, of the views set forth in telegram 114 and authorized him, at his discretion, to impart these views orally to the French Foreign Office (501.AA/7–246). The views of the Department on Siamese submission of the disputed areas question to the United Nations and the Siamese membership application were conveyed to the Siamese Chargé on July 3 (memorandum by Mr. Landon, filed under 501.AA/7–346).↩