U.S. INTEREST IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY, MILITARY STRENGTH, AND INTERNATIONAL ORIENTATION OF THAILAND1
1. For previous documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. XXII, pp. 807 ff. Documentation on Thai relations with Cambodia and Thai concern over the situation in Laos is printed in volume xvi.
457. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/12–2657. Confidential; Niact.
458. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5–MSP/12–3057. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Rolland Bushner of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs and Eric Kocher, Director of that Office; cleared by Gardner E. Palmer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Economic Affairs; and approved by Assistant Secretary Robertson.
459. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.00/1–458. Confidential. Repeated to Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Rangoon, Saigon, Vientiane, and Chiengmai.
460. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/1–1758. Confidential.
461. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/1–2158. Confidential.
462. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.00/1–2458. Secret. Drafted by Bushner and Walter G. Stoneman of ICA, cleared with the Department of Defense, and approved by Gardner Palmer.
463. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Kocher) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5811/1–2758. Confidential. Drafted by Bushner and concurred in by Howard P. Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs.
464. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/2–1758. Confidential; Noforn; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Bushner, cleared in substance with Colonel Voegtly of Walter Reed Army Hospital, and approved by Kocher. Also sent to CINCPAC for POLAD.
On February 13, Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson who had succeeded Bishop, in telegram 2385, requested daily reports on Sarit’s health which, he reported, “is key factor in current Thai political scene.” (Ibid., 792.551/2–1358)
465. Instruction From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/3–2658. Confidential. Drafted by Bushner, cleared in substance by Colonel Voegtly of Walter Reed Army Hospital, and approved by Floyd L. Whittington, Deputy Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD.
467. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.00/4–358. Secret; Limit Distribution.
468. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.00/4–1158. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution.
469. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/4–2758. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to CINCPAC exclusive for Admiral Stump and to CINCPAC POLAD exclusive for Steeves.
470. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/4–3058. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Bushner and approved by Kocher.
471. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the President
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–E1/5–258. Confidential.
472. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/5–258. Confidential; Limit Distribution.
473. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/5–558. Confidential.
474. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/5–758. Confidential. Drafted by Kocher and approved by Robertson.
475. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Kocher) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5811/5–758. Confidential.
476. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 14, 1958
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.92/5–1458. Confidential. Drafted by Bushner on May 17.
477. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/5–1759. Confidential. Drafted by Bushner, cleared by Kocher, and initialed by Robertson. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD.
478. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 21, 1958
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 811.05192/5–2158. Confidential. Drafted by Frank S. Wile on May 23.
479. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Kocher) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5–MSP/5–2658. Secret. Sent through Gardner Palmer.
480. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 27, 1958, 3 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5–MSP/5–2758. Confidential. Drafted by Wile.
481. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) to the Ambassador in Thailand (Johnson)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/5–2858. Secret. Drafted by Bushner and Kocher and approved by Palmer and Parsons.
482. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 29, 1958, 4:30 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5–MSP/5–2758. Confidential. Drafted by Wile and initialed by Robertson.
483. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/5–3158. Confidential.
485. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.551/6–458. Confidential. Drafted by Anthony C. Swezey of SEA, cleared with the Department of Defense, and approved by Parsons.
486. Letter From the Ambassador in Thailand (Johnson) to the Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Kocher)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5/6–558. Top Secret; Official–Informal.
- A handwritten note on the source text reads: “Undated. Apparently sent June 5, 1958.” Another note states that a reply was sent on December 5, 1958, but no such letter has been found in Department of State files.↩