180. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- Summary of Mrs. Carter’s Meeting with Thai Prime Minister Kriangsak
PARTICIPANTS
- Mrs. Rosalynn Carter
- Ambassador Mort Abramowitz
- Mr. Richard Holbrooke
- Mr. Michael Armacost
- Senator Harold Hughes
- Mrs. Jean Young
- Mr. Leslie G. Denend
- Prime Minister Kriangsak Chomanan
- General Prem Tinsulanon, Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Army
- Uppadit Panchariyangun, Foreign Minister
- General Lek Naeomali, Minister of Interior
- Lt. General Chaleomchai Charuwat, Minister Attached to the Office of the Prime Minister
- General Phon Thanaphum, Minister Attached to the Office of the Prime Minister
Using a map, Prime Minister Kriangsak reviewed the refugees situation near the Thai-Cambodian border. He pointed out that there are nearly 200,000 Cambodian refugees on the border and perhaps another [Page 632] 200,000–300,000 near Sisaphon approximately 40 kilometers from the border in Cambodia. Those near the border could move into Thailand at any time.
Ambassador Abramowitz asked what was being done to prepare for this influx. Prime Minister Kriangsak stated that four new sites for refugee camps were being prepared but that providing sufficient water was a major problem. He added that sites must be found west of the military line. Mrs. Carter pointed out that the voluntary agencies had told her that the most urgent need now was the location of additional sites for camps. The Prime Minister nodded agreement.
Mrs. Carter asked how the people along the border and in western Cambodia were being fed and asked about the possibility of having trucks standing by at the border ready to carry food into Cambodia. Prime Minister Kriangsak said that trucks would be stopped by the Heng Samrin regime and the Vietnamese. He felt that a truck convoy could only enter Cambodia after obtaining permission and even then it would require protection. In response to further questions, he indicated that he did not think the Vietnamese would allow aircraft to land at Siem Reap or other cities in the northwest, but that perhaps an airdrop would be effective. Even if 20 percent was lost to Heng Samrin forces and the Vietnamese, he still felt that the airdrop would be worth the effort. However, he reiterated that although he would certainly approve trucks or aircraft entering Cambodia from Thailand, this could only be done after obtaining permission.
In response to the question of when the Cambodians along the border would enter Thailand, Prime Minister Kriangsak felt that it would be soon. He was sure that during this dry season, the Vietnamese would attempt to extend control of the Heng Samrin regime to all of Cambodia. He felt that they would be unsuccessful but that the fighting would likely push those Cambodians near the border into Thailand.
The conversation next moved to security issues. Ambassador Abramowitz asked the Prime Minister if he believed the Vietnamese would respect Thai borders. Prime Minister Kriangsak responded that even though the Vietnamese have promised publicly to respect Thai sovereignty, Thailand could not trust the Vietnamese and would not be caught unprepared. He said that Thailand intended to remain strong and was fully engaged in planning for such a contingency as well as taking the necessary steps to increase the number of Thai divisions. The Prime Minister added that, should the Vietnamese enter Thailand, we will fight, we will go to the United Nations, and we will call on our allies for help. For example, he said that the Chinese had told him that if the Vietnamese invade Thailand they will administer a “second lesson” to Vietnam.
Assistant Secretary Holbrooke assured the Prime Minister that, in spite of congressional cuts, Thailand would receive the levels of security [Page 633] assistance requested by the President. Prime Minister Kriangsak called this good news and added that Thailand realizes that it must bear some of the cost of maintaining a strong posture against the Communists, but that he hoped that others like the U.S. would remain convinced that this part of the world is also very important to their interests. We must not miscalculate Vietnamese intentions, he stressed.
Returning to the refugee issue, Prime Minister Kriangsak said that he had two hopes: first, that the outflow of refugees to resettlement countries should roughly balance with the inflow from all sources (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam); and second, that there should be no residual. Eventually, all the refugees should either return to their country or the world should accept this burden. He added that he had thought for some time about his announcement that Thailand would accept all refugees wishing to enter and hoped now that other countries would help Thailand. In particular, he asked the U.S. to do more in economic cooperation with Thailand.
After confirming that it would be feasible administratively to make some adjustments in the allocation of the 14,000 monthly ceiling, Assistant Secretary Holbrooke asked the Prime Minister if an increase in U.S. acceptance of refugees from Thailand would be helpful in the coming months. Prime Minister Kriangsak responded that it would be very helpful in showing that the problem was not increasing for Thailand. The Thai people would be very appreciative. Mrs. Carter noted this point and indicated she would pursue it. Prime Minister Kriangsak went on to urge the U.S. to publicize Thailand’s humanitarian decision, to point out the Vietnamese role in exacerbating the refugee problem, and thus to solicit private and public help in caring for and resettling the refugees.
Prime Minister Kriangsak concluded the meeting by asking Mrs. Carter to give his thanks to the President for sending her to Thailand and asked her to convey the following message to the President: 1) The U.S. has good friends in Thailand; 2) We need economic help; 3) We need security assistance and assurances; and, 4) We ask you to build and focus world opinion to support Thailand with the refugee problem.2
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinksi Office File, Country File, Box 74, Thailand, 1/77–12/79. Secret. The meeting took place in the Prime Minister’s residence. Printed from a draft dated November 14.↩
- For Mrs. Carter’s report on her trip, see Document 71.↩