Office of the Historian

751G.9215/7–346: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Siam (Stanton)

secret
u.s. urgent
Washington, July 11, 1946—2 p.m.

572. 1. Coincident with urtel 769, July 319 Dept reaffirmed US position to Siamese Leg concerning disputed areas emphasizing US belief Siam before submitting case should retrocede areas and declare Agreement May 9, 1941 invalid. Siamese Leg stated difficult retrocede areas because internal political situation Siam and inquired US reaction if Siam declared Agreement May 9, 1941 invalid when submitting case. Inform FonOff Dept prefers both retrocession and declaration.20 (See urtel 779, July 621). As a minimum you should attempt to secure declaration which would at least clarify issues and improve Siam’s position with UN.

2. Dept stated that as Siam preparing submit disputed areas to UN, agreeing in advance accept and implement decisions UN, US justified voting affirmatively on Siam’s application membership UN. For further info membership see Deptel 571, Jul 10.22

Sent Bangkok. Eepeated London, Paris [, New York].

Acheson
  1. Not printed; it stated: “Cabinet has approved presentation to UNO of whole Indochina frontier question including disputed territories and border incidents. Former will be given principal emphasis.… Simultaneously all Siamese diplomatic missions are being circularized with statement expressing hope that all difficulties between Siam and France will be settled by UNO.” (751G.9215/7–346)↩
  2. In telegram 813, July 16, 6 p.m., Mr. Stanton reported that he had strongly urged upon the Foreign Minister the desirability of retroceding areas and issuing declaration (892.014/7–1646).↩
  3. Not printed.↩
  4. See footnote 18, p. 1031.↩