Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXVII, Mainland Southeast Asia; Regional Affairs

386. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Marks) to President Johnson¹

Washington, May 6, 1968.

SUBJECT

• Your Meeting with the Prime Minister of Thailand

Problems

After your meeting with Prime Minister Thanom, I will talk to him about two problems:²

1. The Thai Government has not given proper attention to the need for a national information program designed to gain popular support. Hence, USIA operates some information programs which I want the Thai to assume.

2. The Thai are having trouble with their foreign press coverage, some of which they consider “insulting.” Yet, they merely react after a story is published instead of paying attention to correspondents beforehand. Foreign Minister Thanat has talked of banning “unfriendly” correspondents, a step which I believe would backfire.

Recommendations

I recommend that in your discussion with the Prime Minister you:

1. Emphasize the importance of a Thai-initiated national information program to improve communications between his government and the Thai people.

2. Suggest that the best way to encourage friendly foreign press coverage for Thailand would be to pay more attention to foreign correspondents in Bangkok before they write their stories.

3. Tell the Prime Minister that you have instructed me to meet with him separately to discuss in detail ways in which we can be helpful to him.

Leonard H. Marks

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Thailand, Thanom Kittikachorn Visit, 5/8–9/68. Confidential
2. No other record of the Marks-Thanom conversation has been found.