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

892.00/10–2246: Telegram

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

secret

Washington, October 28, 1946—6 p.m.

5766. French Emb informed orally by Dept⁸ substance Bangkok tel 1196 Oct 22⁹ repeated Paris Oct 23 re Chaiburi incident and Ross report. Concern expressed that further such incidents may jeopardize peaceful settlement; that US fully recognizes cooperative attitude but worried lest undisciplined forces Indochina cause difficulties especially during territorial transfers. In your discretion if opportunity presents discuss similar vein with FonOff.¹⁰

Byrnes

8. On October 23.
9. Not printed; it reported that the British at Bangkok had received a report from Captain Ross, their military observer, of an attack on Chaiburi on the Siamese side of the Mekong by 70 Lao soldiers, commanded by French officers, who killed five Siamese and “shot up” and looted the village. The telegram also stated that the Siamese Foreign Minister invoked the assistance of the American and British Legations and threatened to take active measures if the attacks continued. The telegram concluded with Mr. Stanton’s recommendation that the matter be brought to the attention of the French Government. (892.00/10–2246)
10. The Embassy had already discussed this incident with Mr. Baudet, who supplied information from Admiral d’Argenlieu that the raid into Siamese territory had been contrary to orders and that disciplinary measures had been taken. Mr. Baudet noted also the Admiral’s expression of sympathy for French military personnel in the frontier area because of continuous raids, shots and other provocations from Siamese territory (telegram 5355, October 24, 6 p.m., from Paris, filed under 892.014/10–2446).