892.014/8–1346
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs (Moffat)
| Participants: | M. Francis Lacoste, Minister, French Embassy; |
| Mr. Abbot Low Moffat, SEA |
On arrival at the cocktail party at my home at which it had been arranged Lacoste and the Siamese delegation would meet, Lacoste informed me that just as he left the Embassy instructions had been received that the meeting with the Siamese and any discussions must be “provisionally suspended” pending clarification of the recent episode at Siem Reap; that apparently this was far more serious than had been supposed, thirty-six people had been killed and four of the attackers had been identified by their papers as Siamese. Lacoste stated at first he felt he should stay away altogether but then decided to carry through as planned and in the morning he would call on me and communicate officially the gist of his instructions.
Lacoste in the course of the party met all the Siamese who were present and talked for more than an hour with Prince Wan Waithayakon.
When he left Lacoste told me that he had violated all his instructions by talking with Prince Wan Waithayakon but had thought it wise to do so. He said that Prince Wan proposed the Battambang area of Cambodia be returned to Siam; that Prince Wan was not interested in the Siem Reap area and was quite willing to let go the Laos territories. Lacoste said that he was convinced his Government would not even consider any such proposal and that he had so stated to Prince Wan Waithayakon.