792.00/5–1054
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Thai and Malayan Affairs (Landon)
Subject:
- Thailand and United Action.
Participants:
- The Secretary of State
- M. R. Thuaithep Devakul, Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim—Thai Embassy
- Mr. Robert Murphy—G
- Mr. Kenneth P. Landon—PSA
The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Thailand called at the invitation of the Secretary who asked him whether he and his Government were being kept fully informed by the Thai delegation at Geneva regarding developments at the Geneva Conference. Upon being assured that such was the case, the Secretary said that although the U.K. and French Governments were not at this moment prepared to go ahead along the lines of his concept of “united action” it remained nevertheless the policy of this Government to continue conversations with interested Governments looking toward collective action to provide for the regional security of Southeast Asia.
The Secretary inquired whether the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim had been reading in the newspapers regarding possible Five-Power military staff agency consultations in connection with the situation in Southeast Asia. The Chargé d’Affaires said he had seen such references and did not understand them. It was explained to him that the Five Powers (U.K., U.S., France, New Zealand and Australia) had for several years used a military staff agency from time to time to study military developments in Southeast Asia. He added that such a staff agency was not the beginning of “united action” nor were the five nations represented on the staff agency to be regarded as a nucleus for united action. No decision had been reached on current uses, if any, of the staff agency.
The Secretary then asked whether the Thai Government was moving ahead with its plans for enlarging its Armed Forces and referred [Page 469] to a recent conversation held by the Chargé d’Affaires with officers of the Department on this subject.1 The Chargé d’Affaires affirmed that he had not only informed his Government at Bangkok but had also taken up the subject directly with the Thai Foreign Minister and the Thai Ambassador to the United States who are at Geneva, and he believed that a formal request by the Thai Government for U.S. assistance for an enlarged Thai Army would be made soon.
After expressing gratification with this development the Secretary asked the Chargé d’Affaires if he had any questions. He asked whether the Secretary expected the French and the British to join in united action at a later date. The Secretary said that he did not hope for very much from the French at this time because of their emotional state at the fall of Dien Bien Phu; that there was a possibility the present French Government would fall, but that if the present Government was sustained he might hope for some French support.
Mr. Devakul asked about Congressional support for united action and the Secretary explained that any collective security pacts or agreements would, of course, be referred to Congress. As Mr. Devakul departed the Secretary indicated that he wished these conversations to continue from time to time and invited the Charge d’Affaires to seek an appointment whenever he had a question.
While walking to the front door Mr. Devakul said to Mr. Landon that he wished he had asked one more question; namely, whether the Secretary would consider a mutual security treaty at this time with Thailand, adding that in his estimation such a bilateral agreement was necessary, especially in view of British and French attitudes.