792.00/12–2052: Telegram
No. 386
The Ambassador in Thailand (Stanton) to the Department of State
1129. Further conversation yesterday with Prime Minister ref arrests Commies and others said planning overthrow govt. He said arrests continuing and now more Chinese than Thai in custody. In reply my inquiry re evidence he said this based in part on documents seized by police but more obtained from interrogations and confessions. Some documents he said no doubt spurious .…
Prime Minister said to date indicated Commie plans were still in initial stage but had been progressing steadily. On basis arrests made in provinces it was evident Commies were having some success placing agents in village and district administration plan being to stir up trouble in provincial areas and lay foundation for take-over of govt in Bangkok. Prime Minister also referred to recent telegram he claimed addressed to Soviet Legation here from Commie China to effect Chi Commie troops being infiltrated into Indochina. He said this very serious if true but seemed to doubt authenticity of message and said perhaps Soviet Legation deliberately putting out false information. I suggested Prime Minister Govt [Page 658] might want issue statement on whole matter but he said unwise do so while police still carrying on investigation and making more arrests.
At conclusion interview Prime Minister referred to fact Direck Jayanama, former Prime Minister in Pridi Govt, was named in papers turned up by police PriMin new govt. He said laughingly Direck once before named PriMin in abortive coup attempt Feb 1949 but that he personally did not believe Direck involved.