892.014/8–146
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State to President Truman
The French have requested our good offices in presenting and seeking Siamese assent to a proposal to resolve the French-Siamese dispute by referring to the International Court the validity of the 1941 treaty pursuant to which Siam acquired certain territories from Indochina. To preserve the rights and prestige of both countries and to prevent any political or economic action prejudicial to either party pending the Court decision, the French wish Siamese agreement on an interim administration of the disputed territories under third power, preferably United States, auspices. If Siam will agree to these two proposals, France will consider her state of war with Siam terminated, will resume normal relations with Siam and will not oppose Siamese membership in the United Nations. It would be understood that, on reaching an agreement along the foregoing lines, Siam would not press its complaint before the Security Council.
I believe that we should accede to the French request aiding in a peaceful solution of the French-Siamese differences which would avoid the dangers of procedural wrangles in the Security Council and the [Page 1046] taking of possibly divergent public positions by the countries represented thereon.
The French proposal for an interim administration presents some difficulties because the French would like to have all Siamese administrators and police withdrawn and a new administration constituted from the local population under American control. In my opinion this would be totally impractical and I believe the French would be satisfied with the withdrawal, for symbolic reasons, of some top Siamese administrative and police officials. In that event, if both countries so desire, I believe that it would be desirable for you to designate an American, with a small staff, to act as Conservator. Such Conservator should, of course, utilize the existing administrative machinery but have a veto power over any orders of the central government at Bangkok which he considered prejudicial to the interests of either party. He should have power to replace any official who fails to cooperate or work efficiently with the interim administration. And he should also have power to take affirmative action which he might consider necessary to achieve the objectives of the interim administration.
There is attached for your approval, if you concur, a draft telegram to Bangkok outlining the French proposals, giving our reasons for believing that Siam should accept them, and outlining our own willingness to appoint a Conservator if both countries so desire.42
- Approved by President Truman on August 1; for text of message sent to Bangkok, see telegram 642, August 1, 6 p.m., infra.↩