Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXIII, Southeast Asia

400. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

Washington, April 6, 1961.

SUBJECT

• Exchange of Letters

PARTICIPANTS

• The President
• His Excellency Visutr Arthayukti, Ambassador of Thailand
• The Honorable Kenneth T. Young, Jr., United States Ambassador to Thailand

The Ambassador of Thailand called on the President at 10:30 April 6, 1961, to present a letter from Prime Minister Sarit dated March 21.¹ This message replied to the President’s letter of February 28.²

After reading the Prime Minister’s letter, the President said that he wished to reaffirm the statements made in his letter of February 28. The United States Government is prepared to support Thailand against the dangers it faces on such a long exposed frontier. The President assured the Ambassador that the US Government was fully sympathetic to the problems facing Thailand and that there was no division within the US Government in this regard. The President said that Secretary Rusk had reported to him on the vigor and determination which the Prime Minister and the Royal Thai Government had shown in regard to the SEATO Conference. The President was very glad to hear this and expressed his appreciation.

With regard to economic development, the President pointed out he hoped the Government of Thailand realized that the Administration had the problem of convincing the Congress of the necessity of continuing the foreign aid programs, and that, while the US Government might wish to do many things, it had to persuade the Congress and sometimes could not do all it wished. The President pointed out that the aid program was being reshaped to put our assistance on a realistic and long-range economic basis. The intention is to develop programs for building an economy on a five-year planning basis and not for temporary purposes. The President said that such programs should show measurable progress. He told the Ambassador that the US Government intended to move ahead, and noted that the US Government was intensively studying various concrete ways and means to formulate such programs. By way of illustration, he pointed out that Ambassador Young was studying Thailand’s economic development very carefully and extensively. The President then read out loud, and said he agreed with, the last paragraph of the Prime Minister’s letter of March 21.

The President then asked the Ambassador what he thought of the situation in Laos and Southeast Asia. The Ambassador replied that the discussions regarding a cease-fire and a conference made the situation seem better. However, he was afraid that the communists would try to use these devices to take over Laos and South Viet-Nam. Their next target would then be Thailand in his opinion. The President agreed and stressed the need for building a strong military shield in Laos if that were possible.

In conclusion, the President asked the Ambassador to inform his Prime Minister of US support for and interest in, Thailand. The President emphasized that it was his policy to support those desirous and anxious to help themselves.

The President told the Ambassador that he had visited Bangkok and had enjoyed it very much. The Ambassador then told the President how much the King and Queen had enjoyed their visit to the United States. As the Ambassador was leaving, the President said, that Mrs. Kennedywould be very pleased to meet Madame Visutr and he hoped that this could be arranged.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.92/4–661. Secret. Drafted by Young and approved in the White House on April 13. Young was appointed Ambassador to Thailand on March 29, and presented his credential on June 22.
1. In his letter, Sarit stated that while Thailand was heartened by President Kennedy’s appreciation of its contribution, Thailand needed sympathetic understanding and concrete, tangible support. Thailand welcomed assurances of U.S. support in resisting Communist aggression and subversion, but needed to enhance its basic economic strength. It therefore welcomed U.S. willingness to explore with Thailand measures for economic development and mobilizing of Thai resources. In the last paragraph of the letter, Sarit hoped that such a joint exploratory undertaking would not remain purely academic, but would lead to positive and concrete results. (Telegram 156 to Bangkok, April 7; ibid., 611.92/4–761) The letter as submitted by the Thai Embassy is ibid., EA/Thai Files: Lot 66 D 500, Correspondence between Heads of State.
2. See footnote 3, Document 397.