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

892.014/8–1446

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs (Moffat)

[Washington,] August 14, 1946.

Participants:	M. Francis Lacoste, Minister, French Embassy;
	Mr. Woodruff Wallner, WE;
	Mr. Abbot Low Moffat, SEA.

M. Lacoste called by appointment at his request and handed us the attached note and aide-mémoire.⁶⁶ The aide-mémoire describes the recent incident at Siem Reap.

The note refers to the importance the French Government attaches to the incident on the ground that the attacking force was organized in Siam and it requests the American Government provisionally to suspend its good offices until it can be determined whether in connection with the French Court proposals it may be necessary to require an additional condition providing for necessary security guarantees.

M. Lacoste stated that he interpreted the note to apply to the good offices sought by the French in connection with the Court proposals and that it did not apply to good offices which we might extend in connection with direct negotiations. He agreed with the view which we expressed that this incident and the danger of further incidents make an early French-Siamese settlement all the more urgent. He thought, however, that he would not begin even unofficial conversations with Prince Wan for two or three days pending possible further clarification of the situation and he stated that he had so informed Prince Wan.

M. Lacoste hoped that Ave would impress upon the Siamese the urgent necessity of fulfilling their duties under international law and prevent armed attacks on French territory being organized in Siamese territory.

A[bbot] L[ow] M[offat]

66. Dated August 14, neither printed.