892.014/10–146
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs (Moffat)
| Participants: | Dr. Suchit Hiranphueck, Member of the Siamese Delegation now in Washington, Member of the Siamese House of Representatives and Secretary to the Siamese Minister of Foreign Affairs; |
| Mr. Abbot Low Moffat, SEA. |
Dr. Suchit Hiranphueck called on me to inform me that the Siamese Delegation was convinced that Siam must return unconditionally the territories which Siam acquired from Indochina in 1941; that they had held this view when they arrived but hoped to effect some bargain in exchange for such retrocession; that his Government had been disappointed that the United States had not given them active assistance in effecting such bargain, but that they realized the situation and felt that the sooner the return could be accomplished the better for Siam in its standing in world opinion and also because [Page 1079] they sincerely desired to establish friendly relations with and have France as a friend in the future. He stated that the question now was merely one of procedure which would make it possible for the Siamese Government to declare the 1941 treaty null and void; that the people in Siam and especially the members of the Siamese Parliament, however, did not realize the situation and he was planning to return immediately to Bangkok to report to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to speak in the Parliament in an effort to make his colleagues realize that the immediate return of the territories is essential. He expected that Nai Kuang Aphaiwong, leader of the Opposition Party and one other member of the House who is on the delegation and would also return before long to Bangkok to aid in persuading the Siamese Parliament of the realities of the situation.
In connection with his reference to disappointment that the United States had not actively aided Siam in bargaining with the French, he commented with appreciation on the great assistance which we had given Siam since the war. I explained again our position that no nation which had acquired territory with the aid of Japanese aggression should retain such territory or use its possession of such territory as a bargaining point to secure the cession of part of that territory; but that we had never passed on the basic merits of the Siamese claims, felt that these should be presented for consideration in a peaceful orderly manner, and had consistently used our influence with the French to bring about assurance that once the territories were returned, peaceful opportunity to consider Siamese claims would be forthcoming.
Dr. Suchit expressed the hope that when the territories are returned there will be established some procedure of conciliation or arbitration of Siamese claims which will in fact result in a prompt consideration of and decision upon such claims. He stated that it would be extremely unfortunate if the French should attempt dilatory tactics and the discussion of Siamese claims drag out interminably and without decision.
He also states his belief that the Government could secure Parliamentary approval of a declaration that the 1941 treaty was invalid and of a return of the territories, if it could be shown that this was not purely a voluntary gesture on the part of the Government but was in accordance with the opinion of the principal Allies (US and UK) and especially if by this action Siam secured membership in the United Nations.
In this connection I asked Dr. Suchit what progress had been made for the establishment of diplomatic relations with USSR. Dr. Suchit stated that his Government preferred to keep close relations with the western democratic countries and was very reluctant to develop [Page 1080] relations with the Soviet fearing that such action would be misconstrued by the United States87 and Great Britain; that in May 1945 an agrément for the appointment of Arthakitti Banomyong, Minister to Sweden and brother of Luang Pradist [the then Regent and later Prime Minister]88 had been sought from Moscow without success. Recently he stated such an agrément had again been sought but no reply had been received. Believing that the anti-communist law might be a factor, Parliament was considering the repeal of that law. He stated that no request for diplomatic relations had been received from the Soviet since the war. He indicated strongly that except for their interest in becoming members of the United Nations the Siamese were anxious not to have relations with the Soviet beyond the strictest formal diplomatic relations and that they would be glad to dispense with even these, if possible.
- Telegram 335, April 4, 1946. noon, from Bangkok had transmitted a query by the Siamese Foreign Minister as to whether the United States would object to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Siam and the Soviet Union. The Department’s reply, in telegram 255, April 10, 1946, 7 p.m., stated that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Siam and the USSR was considered a question for decision by those two countries (761.92/4–446).↩
- Brackets appear in the original memorandum.↩