892.014/10–246
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs (Moffat)
| Participants: | The French Ambassador, M. Bonnet; |
| The Acting Secretary, Mr. Acheson; | |
| Miss Frances Willis, WE; | |
| Mr. Abbott Low Moffat, SEA. |
M. Bonnet called by appointment at his request and handed Mr. Acheson the attached note89 setting forth a proposed program for settlement of the French Siamese dispute and requested the good offices of the United States in presenting the program to the Siamese delegation now in Washington and in urging its acceptance. M. Bonnet pointed out that the program was in accordance with the views of the Department communicated to the French Government in October 1945,90 and after some discussion of the program, Mr. Acheson stated that this Government would be glad to extend its good offices as requested.
In the course of conversation, M. Bonnet made clear that if the [Page 1081] Siamese so desired, France would in connection with withdrawal of the Siamese complaint to the Security Council seek from that body some expression of approval of the program agreed upon in order to ease the internal situation confronting the Siamese Government. He stated also that France would not only withdraw its opposition to Siamese membership in the United Nations but would support such membership. It was pointed out to M. Bonnet that the Siamese Government could probably not secure parliamentary sanction for a declaration that the 1941 treaty was null and void unless at the same time it knew of the other provisions of the program. M. Bonnet expressed the view that agreement on the entire program could be effected in one document or in documents simultaneously executed, but that the putting into operation of the various provisions of the program would have to be in the order indicated. He indicated that there would be no objection to the taking of necessary preliminary steps for setting up the Conciliation Commission quite promptly, but that under no circumstances could the Commission begin to function until the territories had in fact been restored and the status quo ante established. He explained that under the proposal for a Conciliation Commission, action once agreed upon would be automatic and must be carried through to a conclusion.
The Ambassador also pointed out that a protocol to govern procedures relating to the restoration of the territories would be necessary; that possibly this might constitute part of the over-all agreement or agreements, but if not provision for such protocol would need to be made.
In response to the Acting Secretary’s inquiry, M. Bonnet stated that his Government would be glad to avail itself of the good offices of this Government in working out the details of an agreement or agreements to put the proposed arrangement into effect; and that he, Georges-Picot, Prince Monireth of Cambodia and Prince Savang of Laos would at all times be available for the purpose.
Later M. Francis Lacoste of the French Embassy telephoned Mr. Moffat to state that he would communicate the proposed program which the Ambassador had given Mr. Acheson to the British Embassy and he understood that similar information would be given the British Foreign Office by the French Embassy in London. Still later M. Lacoste telephoned again to state that he was not sure whether the Ambassador had made clear that he hoped we would communicate the proposal not only to the Siamese Delegation now in Washington but also directly to the Siamese Government in Bangkok but that this was what the Ambassador had intended.
- Infra.↩
- Note of October 1, 1945, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. vi, p. 1346.↩