751G.00/7–2953
Memorandum, of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Thai and Malayan Affairs (Larodon)
Subject:
- Indochina
Participants:
- The Secretary
- His Excellency, Pote Sarasin, Ambassador of Thailand
- Kenneth P. Landon
The Secretary invited the Thai Ambassador, Pote Sarasin, to call in fulfillment of a previous promise that after the Foreign Ministers’ conference he would discuss further with him the subject of Indochina.
The Secretary mentioned that the military plans of the French General, Henri Navarre, were in general acceptable to the United States military authorities; that the French Government had indicated that it was prepared to grant full and complete independence to the three Associated States on a basis somewhat similar to the Commonwealth Governments such as India; that the French continued to resist the idea of making the Indochina situation a subject of UN discussion although the U.K. and the U.S. had favored it and that, therefore, [Page 704] he would advise that the Thai Government continue to defer its bringing of the case before the United Nations Security Council.
The Thai Ambassador asked whether the Associated States were content with the offer of independence by the French and whether it was indeed complete independence. The Secretary explained that the next move was now up to the Associated States and it was his understanding that they were to write their own ticket, that is, their constitutions and any other documents, and indicate specifically what relationship they wish to establish with France, and that France was in a receptive mood and was prepared to grant them just about anything they might request. He added reflectively that, of course, if the Government fell some other French Government might not feel entirely the same way but that there was every reason to believe that this would continue to be French policy.