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

892.014/8–246: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

secret
u.s. urgent
niact

Paris, August 2, 1946—6 p.m.
[Received August 2—4:05 p.m.]

3800. Abbott⁴⁷ called on Baudet today in connection with Deptel 3789, August 1.⁴⁸ Baudet stated he was perturbed re telegram just received from Ambassador Bonnet re his conversation with Mr. Acheson,⁴⁹ since Foreign Office’s instructions on proposal for submission of Indochinese-Siamese dispute to International Court had apparently not been sufficiently precise.

Baudet stated Foreign Office insists, as matter of principle, that all Siamese administrative and police officials be withdrawn from inter-administration and not merely top officials.

It was pointed out to Baudet that strict interpretation of this principle would presumably paralyze local administration, since it would appear doubtful if any great number of persons of local origin were at present serving in political or police administrations nor would suitable persons of local origin be available for intergration into such administrations. It was further suggested to Baudet that Department’s willingness to appoint American conservator was presumably based on assumption that workable local administration and police force would be present.⁵⁰

While Baudet continued to insist that all Siamese officials and police must be withdrawn, he seemed somewhat impressed by above arguments and stated he would obtain more detailed information re organization and makeup of administration in disputed areas before drafting new instructions to Bonnet.

British Embassy here has no information as to whether British Government will support our approach to Siamese as described in telegram under reference.⁵¹

Sent to Washington as 3800, repeated to London as 577.

Caffery

[In a letter of August 3, 1946, handed to the Acting Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Siamese Chargé communicated the text of a telegram of July 31 from the Siamese Minister for Foreign Affairs making formal application for Siamese membership in the United Nations. The text of the letter is printed in SC, 1st yr., 2nd series, Suppl. No. 4, page 46. For additional documentation regarding consideration by the United Nations of the application and United States policy relating thereto, see Foreign Relations, 1946, volume I.]

47. George M. Abbot, First Secretary of Embassy in France.
48. This was a repeat of telegram 642 to Bangkok, p. 1046.
49. See Mr. Wallner’s memorandum of July 29, p. 1042.
50. The Department advised Mr. Caffery, in telegram 3840, August 3, 1 p.m., that his reasoning in the third paragraph of telegram 3800 was correct. Mr. Caffery was authorized, at his discretion, to “impress upon Baudet that if this Govt accepts supervision interim administration territories it expects work with existing officials minus only such higher ones as are symbolic central Bangkok authority and can depart without causing administrative chaos. Further French insistence this point beside inevitably incurring Siamese recalcitrance may well cause us withdraw offer”. (892.014/8–246).
51. In telegram 7252, August 5, 4 p.m., the Chargé in the United Kingdom reported that the British Foreign Office agreed that the removal of all Siamese administrative and police officials in the disputed territories was unrealistic and impractical (892.014/8–546).