Office of the Historian

516. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State1

Bangkok, April 10, 1959—8 a.m.

2541. Bernard Kalb New York Times informed Embassy wired story last night reporting his interview Deputy Prime Minister Thanom. Kalb reports Thanom stated Thailand would like $60 million grant aid for economic development. This in addition to current economic aid program. Also would need military equipment for 15,000 non-MAP troops. Thanom stated that many neighboring countries seemed to receive much more aid from us than did Thailand even though these neighboring countries are less close US than Thailand.2 Thanom said Sarit during Washington visit last year raised this matter with American authorities but according Thanom was told that US was unable increase its economic program to Thailand but would continue at present level.3

Unger
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.5–MSP/4–1059. Official Use Only.↩
  2. At the Fifth SEATO Council meeting in Wellington, April 8–10, Parsons discussed the question of U.S. aid to Thailand with Foreign Minister Thanat Khoman on April 9. Khoman characterized U.S. aid as “insufficient” and objected to what he felt was the U.S. tendency to favor neutral nations over those, such as Thailand, which supported the United States and joined SEATO. (Memorandum of conversation by Parsons, April 9; ibid., Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1253)↩
  3. The Department of State responded in telegram 2278 to Bangkok, April 13, as follows: “Assume Embassy at its discretion using best efforts informally discourage Thai officials at appropriate levels from presenting additional requests of magnitude apparently mentioned by Thanom.” (Ibid., Central Files, 792.5–MSP/4–1059)↩