Office of the Historian

560. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand1

Washington, November 2, 1960—10:23 p.m.

624. Your 768.2 You are authorized to make the statement you propose to the Foreign Minister in a secret letter from you, provided you delete words “without delay”.

Department considers that it can grant this authorization because such statement does not constitute any US obligations or commitments to Thailand beyond those already undertaken by the US as a signatory of the SEATO Treaty.

The Department believes that it would be inappropriate to allow the Thai Govt, to consider that in making this statement it is our intention to undertake any bilateral commitment to Thailand beyond our SEATO obligations. You should therefore advise the Foreign Minister when you give him the written statement that we regard it as a reaffirmation of our determination to stand firmly behind our SEATO obligations to Thailand and to act upon them fully.

FYI. If you consider essential include words “without delay”, will be necessary obtain White House concurrence. End FYI.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–2860. Top Secret; Niact. Drafted by Richard E. Usher, cleared with appropriate offices in the Department of State, and approved by Merchant.↩

  2. In telegram 768, October 28, Johnson requested authorization to make the following statement to the Foreign Minister in a secret letter:

    “USG assures TG that if situation in Laos should result in identifiable external Communist aggression against Laos or Thailand U.S. would take gravest view of situation and assures TG that U.S. would, in accordance its obligations under SEATO, without delay take appropriate measures as may be required to meet situation.” (Ibid., 751J.00/10–2860)

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